Zechariah 8:18-19 (ESV)
And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.
The book of Zachariah is filled with all types of prophetical utterances from the prophet. He is speaking to Judah about their enemies, their own walk with God, their past, their present and their future. God is warning them, informing them, preparing them and comforting them, all in one prophets words. The above words are the comfort words. They have had some difficult times. In the fourth month, the walls of Jerusalem fell and they fasted about that (2 Kings 2:25:3-4). In the fifth month the city fell and they fasted over that (Jeremiah 52:12-15). In the seventh month their king at the time (Gedaliah) was assassinated and they fasted about that (2 Kings 25:25). In the tenth month the tenth month the siege of the city began and they fasted about that (Ezekiel 24:1-2). These were all fasted over. But, in a promise in the midst of punishment, God sends them a message of hope and comfort. These fast days, says the Lord of Hosts, will be turned to joy and gladness. Right in the midst of struggle God sends a messianic message of hope in Christ. What should the response be of the people? They are to “love truth and peace.” That is the response to God providing us comfort. Our response to Christ’s love and comfort is to provide love and peace to others. There is no other option.
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