111. Prayer Of The Jews Concerning Their Fasts.
Prayer Of The Jews Concerning Their Fasts. The Prayer as recorded.—Zechariah 7:2-3. The Lord’s Answer.—Zechariah 7:4-14. The Lord’s further Answer.—Zechariah 8:18-22.
Sherezer and Regem-melech were probably men of distinction among the remnant of Jews at Babylon, and were sent to the temple to inquire of the prophets and priests concerning their fasts. They kept an annual fast in the fourth month in remembrance of the breaking down of the wall of Jerusalem, one for the burning of the temple in the fifth month, another in the seventh month on the day Gedeliah was slain, and one at the time of the siege of the city commenced in the tenth month.
They had wept and mourned over their sins and had fasted often, separating themselves from the world, and denying themselves ordinary food; weary of these fasts they make it a subject of special prayer. It is evident from the answer to it they had not fasted with the right spirit; although not of divine appointment, it would have been of spiritual benefit to them had they uprightly observed it; they exhibited no humility and no deep sorrow for sin, and these “appointed times” were kept as a mere matter of form; there was no heart work in it, and such a service was not acceptable although appointed by high authority. Is there not much fasting which is not “unto the Lord,” even in these latter days? Where is the hunger and thirst of the spirit for heavenly food that should accompany an acceptable fast? We fear it is sometimes forgotten in the formality of the service, or in the “customary prayer,” or lip devotion, that so often attracts the heart where grace has never entered, and where the love of God is not the living, moving, acting, principle. Let no deluded worshiper come with such a “vain oblation,” for by the Lord’s answer to this prayer of the Jews, we know it will not be acceptable. Cease, too, thy weeping, for thy tears are not those God measures in his sacred bottle. There is a fasting of the spirit which he alone can satisfy, and there are prayerful tears, like those of Moses; silent and unexpressed as was the desire of his heart, when the Lord said I have heard thy crying.”