Zechariah 8:18-19

Zechariah received another message from the Lord Almighty. He promised that in the future the sorrowful fasts that the Jews had observed in captivity would give way to joyful feasts. Thus at the end of this section of messages on hypocritical fasting (chs. 7-8), the Lord provided at least a partial answer to the question that the messengers from Bethel had asked about the traditional fasts (Zechariah 7:3). In addition to the fasts in the fifth and seventh months (Zechariah 7:3; Zechariah 7:5), the exiles also had commemorated the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:3-4; Jeremiah 39:2) in the fourth month and the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:1; Ezekiel 24:2) in the tenth month. [Note: The Illustrated . . ., 8:93.] Strict modern Jews still observe these four fasts. They seemingly died out after the second (restoration) temple was finished, but after the destruction of this temple in A.D. 70 the observance of these fasts revived. [Note: See Keil, 2:319.]

"The manifestation of the kingdom will be attended by such a fulness [sic] of salvation that Judah will forget to commemorate the former mournful events and will only have occasion to rejoice in the benefits of grace bestowed by God." [Note: Unger, p. 148.]

The immediate practical application of this revelation was that the people should love truth and peace (cf. Leviticus 19:18; Leviticus 19:34; Deuteronomy 6:5; Psalms 31:23; Amos 5:15). They could value these ideals in the present because they were sure to come in the future. Before mourning could become joy for them, the returnees would need to love truth and peace.