Zechariah 7:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If I desired such fasting and if such an attitude were commendable, why, He asks, did you not fast for seventy years? While you were in Babylon, you not only neglected to observe a public fast but also fell short in fulfilling the requirements of the Law of Moses. In my mercy, I rescued you from the hands of your oppressors, and while you partake in eating and drinking, you are more concerned with satisfying yourselves than pleasing me. Thus, such fasting lacks value, and your weeping is futile, rendering your efforts unrewarded.

“Are not these the words of the prophets of old, during a time when Jerusalem thrived and was blessed, renowned for its vibrant cities on both the hills and the plains?” The prophet Joel called upon the elders, priests, and people to weep and to set aside time for fasting. This call to repentance aimed to prevent them from experiencing the tragedies that had befallen them; He desired that they should not mourn over a temple that had already been destroyed but sought to encourage them to turn to Him through heartfelt cries and tears, so they might be spared from future trials. Therefore, do these not echo the words of the prophets of the past? In your ignorance, you weep in vain, shedding tears over shattered stones from your folly. Until you amend your lives and tread a path of righteousness and integrity, such endeavors should come only after you have thoroughly understood what is pleasing to the Lawgiver.

The Lord responded to the envoys through the prophet, instructing them to inform those who had sent them that they were mistaken. They believed their captivity stemmed solely from their observance of unsanctioned fasts. Instead, God addressed their core issue: the true reason for their exile was their abandonment and disregard of His commandments and laws. This is reflected in His words: “If ye fast or mourn in the fifth month, as ye say, for seventy years, shall ye fast unto Me?” (Zechariah 7:5). He had not commanded them to fast nor had the prophets instructed them to do so, before or after their displacement. Rather, He spoke of righteous judgment and urged their forefathers with the directive: “Judge righteous judgment, and do mercy and bounty to everyone to his brother” (Zechariah 7:9). Because they failed to adhere to these principles, He was angry and removed them from their homeland. He called out to them prior to their exile, yet they did not listen; now, while in captivity, they cry out to Him, but He does not respond. For it is said, “They have given their shoulders to despise, and they have weighed down their ears, that they should not hear, and they have made their heart like adamantine” (Zechariah 7:11-12).