Sājiālìyàshū 7

1 Dàlìwū wáng dì sì nián jiǔ yuè , jiù shì jī sī liú yuè chū sì rì , Yēhéhuá de huà líndào Sājiālìyà .

2 Nàshí Bótèlì rén yǐjing dǎfa shā lì shǎi hé lì jiān mǐ lēi , bìng gēn cóng tāmende rén , qù kĕnqiú Yēhéhuá de ēn ,

3 Bīng wèn wàn jūn zhī Yēhéhuá diàn zhōng de jìsī , hé xiānzhī shuō , wǒ lì nián yǐlái , zaì wǔ yuè jiān kūqì zhāi jiè , xiànzaì hái dāng zhèyàng xíng ma .

4 Wàn jūn zhī Yēhéhuá de huà jiù líndào wǒ shuō ,

5 Nǐ yào xuāngào guóneì de zhòng mín , hé jìsī , shuō , nǐmen zhè qī shí nián zaì wǔ yuè , qī yuè jìnshí bēiāi , qǐ shì sī haó xiàng wǒ jìnshí ma .

6 Nǐmen chī hē , bú shì wèi zìjǐ chī , wèi zìjǐ hē ma .

7 Dāng Yēlùsǎlĕng hé sìwéi de chéngyì yǒu jūmín , zhēng xīngshèng , nán dì gāo yuán yǒu rén jūzhù de shíhou , Yēhéhuá jiè cóng qián de xiānzhī suǒ xuāngào de huà , nǐmen bùdàng tīng ma .

8 Yēhéhuá de huà yòu líndào Sājiālìyà shuō ,

9 Wàn jūn zhī Yēhéhuá céng duì nǐmen de lièzǔ rúcǐ shuō , yào àn zhì lǐ pànduàn , gèrén yǐ cíaì liánmǐn dìxiōng .

10 Bùkĕ qīyē guǎfu , gūér , jìjū de , hé pínqióng rén . shuí dōu bùkĕ xīnli móu haì dìxiōng .

11 Tāmen què bù kĕn tīng cóng , niǔ zhuǎn jiān tóu , sāi ĕr bù tīng .

12 Shǐ xīn yìng rú jīn gāng shí , bù tīng lǜfǎ , hé wàn jūn zhī Yēhéhuá yòng líng jiè cóng qián de xiānzhī suǒ shuō de huà . gùcǐ , wàn jūn zhī Yēhéhuá dà fā liè nù .

13 Wàn jūn zhī Yēhéhuá shuō , wǒ céng hūhuàn tāmen , tāmen bù tīng . jiānglái tāmen hū qiú wǒ , wǒ yĕ bù tīng .

14 Wǒ bì yǐ xuán fēng chuī sǎn tāmen dào sù bú rènshi de wàn guó zhōng . zhèyàng , tāmende dì jiù huāngliáng , shènzhì wú rén láiwǎng jīngguò . yīnwei tāmen shǐ mĕihǎo zhī dì huāngliáng le .

Sājiālìyàshū 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

The captives' inquiry respecting fasting. (1-7) Sin the cause of their captivity. (8-14)

Verses 1-7 If we truly desire to know the will of God in doubtful matters, we must not only consult his word and ministers, but seek his direction by fervent prayer. Those who would know God's mind should consult God's ministers; and, in doubtful cases, ask advice of those whose special business it is to search the Scriptures. The Jews seemed to question whether they ought to continue their fasts, seeing that the city and temple were likely to be finished. The first answer to their inquiry is a sharp reproof of hypocrisy. These fasts were not acceptable to God, unless observed in a better manner, and to better purpose. There was the form of duty, but no life, or soul, or power in it. Holy exercises are to be done to God, looking to his word as our rule, and his glory as our end, seeking to please him and obtain his favour; but self was the centre of all their actions. And it was not enough to weep on fast days; they should have searched the Scriptures of the prophets, that they might have seen what was the ground of God's controversy with their fathers. Whether people are in prosperity or adversity, they must be called upon to leave their sins, and to do their duty.

Verses 8-14 God's judgements upon Israel of old for their sins, were written to warn Christians. The duties required are, not keeping fasts and offering sacrifices, but doing justly and loving mercy, which tend to the public welfare and peace. The law of God lays restraint upon the heart. But they filled their minds with prejudices against the word of God. Nothing is harder than the heart of a presumptuous sinner. See the fatal consequences of this to their fathers. Great sins against the Lord of hosts, bring great wrath from his power, which cannot be resisted. Sin, if regarded in the heart, will certainly spoil the success of prayer. The Lord always hears the cry of the broken-hearted penitent; yet all who die impenitent and unbelieving, will find no remedy or refuge from miseries which while here they despised and defied, but which they then will not be able to bear.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 7

This chapter treats concerning the nature and use of certain fasts kept by the Jews, on account of the destruction of the temple, and other things; and concerning the message of the former prophets to them, and the effects of it. The occasion of the former was an embassy sent by the Jews to the priests and prophets, to know whether they should continue the fast of the fifth month; upon which the prophet was sent by the Lord unto them. The time of the prophecy is noted, Zec 7:1. An account of the embassy is given, of the persons that were sent, and to whom, and upon what account, Zec 7:2,3. The answer of the Lord to it by the prophet, showing the usefulness of fasts to him, and putting them upon hearkening to his voice by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was in great prosperity, Zec 7:4-7 and then they are exhorted by him, in the ministry of the present prophet, to acts of righteousness, several species of which are mentioned; and which were the same they had been exhorted to by the former prophets, but had neglected, and hardened their hearts against all exhortations and instructions, Zec 7:8-12 and were the reason of their captivity and desolation, Zec 7:13,14.