Zechariah 7:8-10
Then this message came to Zechariah from the Lord: “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other."
The people had arranged for themselves all sorts of religious events; fasts, rituals, ceremonies, festivals, and holy days. They took delight in approaching God. They took pleasure in afflicting their souls. But did the Lord ask for these things.
The Lord never asked for these things, he only asked that the people would set the enslaved people free from their bondage. He asked that they would show mercy and judge justly and give generously to the afflicted, be compassionate.
Imagine if you went to your church and suggested that God never asked for us to celebrate Christmas, advent, lent, and Easter; and imagine instead you suggested that we have a holiday from works of wickedness and commercialism. Maybe instead we should set up a program for compassion and kindness, taking care to judge fairly and protect the God given rights of all the people. Imagine the reception you'd get.
Well don't bother imagining, it's not going to change anytime too soon. People do what people do. They are self-serving and their fasts and ritual holidays are set up for their own pleasure.
Think about how you feel about the holidays. Are you truly hoping that Jesus is pleased by your activities when you participate in these special occasions, or are you "delighting in approaching God"?
It's definitely food for thought.
The prophet Zechariah isn't trying to be a buzzkill. He's not trying to ruin these special occasions that everyone loves, he's simply attempting to instruct the worshippers into what good and righteous faith is truly all about. He's looked into visions of the kingdom come and he's not seeing these shadows anymore. Instead he sees a community of believers living in the Lord's grace daily, perpetual holiday. True worshipping through lives of worship.
Zechariah 8:4-5
"This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play."
The call is to himself. Christ doesn't call to a program or a church service, it's a call to his kingdom. And the promise is prosperity and seeds of peace. Perfect health and happiness in Christ. A faith given to them. All things from him, through him, to him. No need for shadows of faith played out in ceremonies. God exulted in a lifestyle of truth and justice, not in a festival. The gatherings in faith are a lifetime experience played out daily on the streets of God's kingdom.
And the Lord keeps his promises. And he only asks...
Zechariah 8:16-17
"But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.”
...that you come out of your darkness.
The people came to Zechariah and asked him about the festivities and the fasts, and he basically told them that they do these things for themselves and should instead become what these things were intended to express. He told them that God has one wish for them.
"...So love truth and peace." (vs. 19)
Just be good to one another. Stop the pretense and virtue-signaling. Stop indulging in yourself. Be kind, love mercy, act justly, this is your holy humble worship.
God promises that people from far-off cities would evangelize each other because of the news of God's goodness towards his chosen people in Jerusalem. He gives them this message so that faith is preserved in the remnants of his people. It's his distinguishing love sent to draw all the world to him in worship. Not in a festival, not in a holiday, not in a revival fast. His kingdom comes in a righteous spirit of love and peace.