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Zechariah 7

14 verses

TL;DR

Zechariah 7 rebukes the people of Israel for failing to truly fast, judge righteously, and protect the vulnerable, leading to divine wrath and the scattering of the nation.

Summary

In Zechariah 7 the prophet receives a message from the LORD about the people's insincere fasts and neglect of the poor. The LORD questions whether their fasting in the fifth and seventh months, and their food and drink, were truly for Him or for themselves. He reminds them of prophetic warnings from prosperous times when justice and mercy prevailed. The LORD commands the people to execute true judgment, show mercy, and refrain from oppressing widows, orphans, strangers, and the poor. The people refuse to listen, hardening their hearts like stone, and the LORD responds with wrath, scattering them among nations and desolating the land.

Outline
  1. 1. Zechariah receives divine rebuke regarding insincere fasting and injustice
  2. 2. LORD commands true judgment, mercy, and protection of the vulnerable
  3. 3. People’s refusal leads to divine wrath and scattering
Themes
Justice and MercyDivine JudgmentHuman Intransigence
Keywords
LORDZechariahJerusalemfastingjusticemercyoppressionwidowfatherlessstrangerpoorhearts as stonewrath
People
ZechariahKing DariusSherezerRegemmelechpriestsprophets
Places
ChisleuJerusalemcities around Jerusalemsouthplain
Things
fastingmourningtrue judgmentmercyoppressionwidowfatherlessstrangerpoorhearts as stonewhirlwind
Key Verses
  • Zechariah 7:5: Highlights the core accusation that fasts were for themselves, not God.
  • Zechariah 7:9: Summarizes LORD’s directive for justice and mercy.
  • Zechariah 7:12: Shows the people's hardened hearts and the resulting divine wrath.
Questions
  • What does the chapter reveal about the nature of true repentance?
  • How does the LORD’s instruction to protect the vulnerable contrast with the people’s actions?
  • What can we learn about the consequences of hardening our hearts against divine guidance?
  • In what ways does the chapter address the relationship between ritual observance and ethical behavior?
  • How might the scattering described in verse 14 be interpreted in a modern context?
Sentiment

negative
The text conveys divine displeasure and wrath toward a people who fail to practice genuine justice and mercy.