Zechariah 7:4-9 Then came the word of the LORD of hosts to me, saying,… The prophet expostulates with the people concerning their monthly fasts, whether they did indeed deserve that name, and were not rather a mere show and pretence of a religious fast. It is necessary to consider the original and occasion of these monthly fasts. When carried into captivity, the Jews appointed four annual fasts. (Zechariah 8:19.) The question is, — Did these fasts truly serve to any religious end and purpose? Were not the people rather worse than better for them? They were sensible of the judgments of God which were broken in upon them, but they did not turn from their sins, but persisted still in their obstinacy and disobedience. These fasts could not therefore be acceptable to God. I. WHAT IS IT TO KEEP A TRULY RELIGIOUS FAST? 1. A truly religious fast consists in the afflicting of our bodies by a strict abstinence that so they may be fit and proper instruments to promote and help forward the grief and trouble of our minds. 2. In the humble confession of our sins to God with shame and confusion of face, and with a hearty contrition and sorrow for them. 3. In an earnest deprecation of God's displeasure, and humble supplications to Him that He would avert His judgments and turn away His anger from us. 4. In intercession with God for such spiritual and temporal blessings upon ourselves and others as are needful and convenient. 5. In alms and charity to the poor, that our humiliation and prayers may find acceptance with God. II. WHAT IS OUR DUTY ON A DAY APPOINTED FOR SOLEMN HUMILIATION AND REPENTANCE THROUGHOUT THE NATION? 1. We should humble ourselves before God everyone for his own personal sins and miscarriages, whereby he hath provoked God, and increased the public guilt, and done his part to bring down the judgments and vengeance of God upon the nation. There cannot be a general reformation without the reformation of particular persons which do constitute and make up the generality. 2. We should heartily lament and bewail the sins of others, especially the great and crying sins of the nation. This hath been the temper and practice of good men in all ages. Illustrate by Jeremiah, Lot, David, Daniel, Ezra, etc. We should lament and bewail the general prevalence of impiety and vice which has diffused itself through all ranks and degrees of men, magistrates, ministers, and people. 3. We should earnestly deprecate God's displeasure, and make our humble supplications to Him, that He would be graciously pleased to avert those terrible judgments which hang over us, and which we have just cause to fear may fall on us; and that He would be entreated by us at last to be appeased towards us, and to turn from the fierceness of His anger. 4. We should pour out our most earnest supplications for the preservation of their majesties sacred persons. 5. Our fasting and humiliation should be accompanied with our alms and charity to the poor and needy. 6. We should prosecute our repentance and good resolutions to the actual reformation and amendment of our lives. This is the proper fruit and effect of all our humiliation and good resolutions. Without this, all our fasting will signify nothing. (Archbishop Sharp.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying, |
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