What prompted the people to send men to seek the Lord's favor? Setting the Scene • Zechariah 7:1 places the event “in the fourth year of King Darius… the ninth month, Kislev,” roughly two years after Zechariah’s earlier night visions (Zechariah 1–6). • Reconstruction of the temple was well underway (cf. Ezra 6:15). Excitement about renewal mixed with lingering memories of judgment. The Long-Standing Fast • During the exile the people instituted four annual fasts (Zechariah 8:19). – Fifth month: mourning the destruction of Solomon’s temple (2 Kings 25:8-10). – Seventh month: mourning the assassination of Gedaliah (Jeremiah 41 ff.). • These were self-imposed acts of sorrow, not commanded feasts like the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-32). Why a Delegation? • Zechariah 7:2-3: “Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to plead for the LORD’s favor, by asking the priests of the house of the LORD of Hosts and the prophets, ‘Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?’” • Key motives: – “To plead for the LORD’s favor” (literally “to pacify the face of Yahweh”)—they wanted blessing, not just information. – Uncertainty: Was continued mourning still appropriate now that God was restoring them? – Deference to revealed authority: They sought an answer “from the priests … and the prophets,” recognizing that truth comes from God’s appointed spokesmen (Deuteronomy 17:8-11; Malachi 2:7). Prompted by Changing Circumstances 1. The temple was rising again—should grief over its fall continue? 2. Prophetic words of future glory (Haggai 2:6-9; Zechariah 2:10-13) stirred hope; lament seemed out of step. 3. They desired assurance that their worship aligned with God’s will, lest self-chosen ritual hinder blessing (Isaiah 1:12-15). Parallel Moments in Scripture • 2 Samuel 21:1—David seeks the LORD about a famine; circumstances sent him to inquire. • Ezra 8:21-23—Ezra proclaims a fast “to humble ourselves before our God,” showing fasting as a means of seeking favor when faced with fresh challenges. • Acts 10:30-33—Cornelius, already devout, sends men to Peter because he desires clear direction from God. Take-Home Truths • Changed seasons call for fresh obedience; past practices must be evaluated in light of current revelation. • True worshipers seek God’s face, not merely religious routine. • God welcomes honest inquiry when it springs from hearts eager to honor Him (Jeremiah 29:13). |
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