During the years of exile in Babylon it appears that people spent much of the fifth month fasting. Now the people of Bethel make the request about whether this fasting needs to continue (v1-3).

The first response of the Lord was about why they were fasting (v4-5). They are being questioned if they had done truly done it for the Lord or not?

Here is a real challenge about our religious and other good activities. Are we doing these truly out of love for the Lord or for other reasons? Other reasons can include looking good, feeling good, or to get some advantage.

The Lord challenges the people and speaks about how His desire is not primarily for fasting but for His people to act with justice, kindness and mercy to each other (8-10)?

We can be busy with religious activity, but for the Lord this counts for nothing if at the same time we fail to treat others fairly and kindly.

The Lord speaks of previous generations whose hearts were as hard as diamonds (v11-14) in regards His word and therefore suffered the judgment of being exiled among the nations. Is your heart soft and open to God’s word and rebuke, or is your heart hard and closed to God’s word?