Favorable Fasting

“'Why have we fasted, and You see it not?
Why have we humbled ourselves, and You take no knowledge of it?'

Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,
and oppress all your workers.” 

—Isaiah 58:3 

Fasting. Fasting is the denial of food or some other practices, habit, or thing that we deny ourselves for a certain period of time. The Bible talks a great deal about fasting—and many biblical characters fasted for a variety of reasons: Moses fasted (Exodus 24:18; 34:28), as did David (2 Samuel 12:21-23), Ezra (Ezra 8:21, 23, 9:5), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4), Esther (Esther 4:16), Daniel (Daniel 9:3), Jesus (Matthew 4:2), and Paul (Acts 9:9; 13:2-3).

The nation of Israel fasted (1 Samuel 7:6), as did the Jewish army (Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 30:13). King Hezekiah held a fast (2 Kings 18:6), as did King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:3). King Ahab, the wickedest king in Israel’s history fasted as a sign of repentance (1 Kings 21:27), as did the evil Ninevites (Jonah 3:5). Ezra and Nehemiah both fasted over sorrow for sin (Ezra 9:5; Nehemiah 1:4) so that  

“we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.”—Ezra 8:21. 

And God listened to their request, “So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty”—Ezra 8:23.

Esther and all of the Jews fasted to thwart evil Mordecai’s plans for genocide (Esther 4:3, 16). Individuals fasted at sorrow for sin (1 Samuel 7:6), at the death of a hero (2 Samuel 1:12; 1 Chronicles 10:12). David humbled himself by fasting (Psalm 69:10), fasted for a sick friend (Psalm 35:13), and a dying child (2 Samuel 12:16-23). The disciples fasted for the consecration of different individuals and ministries (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).

The Bible describes two different types of fasting—one good and the other bad. Bad fasting involved individual’s seeking their own pleasure (Isaiah 58:3), oppressing others (Isaiah 58:4), and promoting self-righteousness (Matthew 9:14-15; Luke 18:12).

Good fasting was to be done in secret without drawing attention to oneself (Matthew 6:16-18). The prophet Isaiah described a good type of fasting that involved men and women humbling themselves,

“...to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”—Isaiah 58:6-7.

Fasting wasn’t for the time when Jesus was here on earth, but it is expected now of His followers (Matthew 9:14-15; Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35), although we should be very much aware of our motives when fasting—on guard against self-righteousness, and any type of legalism that might attempt to turn us from Christ (Colossians 2:18).

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the traditional beginning of the Lenten season that culminates on Resurrection Sunday. It is a time when we humble ourselves before the Lord through fasting, almsgiving (giving of money or things to the poor), and times of prolonged prayer, service, reading, and meditation on the Word of God. During this Lenten season, will you consider fasting before the Lord? Consider it carefully. It may involve fasting from one meal per day or giving up something as coffee, sweets, or meat during the next forty days. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by, but take some time to humble yourself before the Lord so that you may walk closer with Him. Amen.