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Fasting
buildontherock
2021-08-172023-10-01

Fasting is to me the most extreme act of worship in demonstrating one's affliction and dependence on God as our solution. It is an extension of the attitude of Israel when they left Egypt. They were required to leave with haste and that haste was associated with unleavened bread. Unleavened bread is also bread of affliction and hence we begin to see the connection.

Israel left Egypt because they would rather suffer austerity of the wilderness in the hope of being blessed as God's children, than enjoy the temporary comforts of Egypt. We fast because we would rather put our fate in God's hands and suffer the temporary austerity of whatever God wants to put us through, than turn to the world for a temporary solution. It is an act of worship. It is this attitude that connects fasting to the book of Job. Fasting and deliverance from affliction has to do with the fear of God and that is what saved Rahab, the Gibeonites, Nineveh and others.

Afflict your soul

Affliction means something that causes pain or suffering. In the Bible affliction is expressed by directly using every sense except the sense of smell. The sense of smell was employed when Israel made sacrifices and that was a common element of affliction but not all sacrifices meant personal affliction. Sacrifices were burnt and the savour went up to God. Sacrifices are dealt with separately in the article by that name.

Jesus made some key statements that enlighten us about the fundamentals of fasting.

Mark 2:19 [KJV] And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
Matthew 9:15 [KJV] And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

As I understand it this is a reference to when He returns and the marriage of the lamb commences. Following that they will ever be with the Lord and He will dwell with men. Christ's return heralds the end of affliction for man and as long as we are with Him we will never suffer again. Until then we suffer and die with Him as pictured in baptism.

Prayers combined with fasting are very powerful (Matthew 17:21, Mark 9:29). When we combine them we join with the host of saints whose blood is pictured under the altar in Revelation.

Revelation 6:9-10 [KJV] And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Revelation 16:6-7 [KJV] For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

So to join in spirit with those who suffer through the ages, and particularly for the most severe but final suffering of saints, we fast and combine our pleas with theirs.

Behind the purpose of fasting is the willingness to afflict our soul. This affliction is not the same as penance or the sadistic methods of some creeds, but a demonstration of willingness to go through a period of hardship without deliberately harming the holy temple of God. Defacing God's dwelling place would be evil and we cannot worship God with evil so let us establish that first and then look at the importance of affliction.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 [KJV] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Leviticus 16:30-31 [KJV] For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. 31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
Leviticus 23:26-32 [KJV] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Numbers 29:7 [KJV] And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:

All of these passages relate to the Day of Atonement. That subject is handled in an article called Outcasts - Kingdom Redeemed at Atonement. It is the only fast commanded by God and is therefore instructional in what fasting means. It is the day that God restores what is His by intervening in a corrupt world to bring righteousness. It is the day when those who put their trust in Him see evil removed while they are brought under His rule and benefit from the mercy and sacrifice of Christ.

Sackcloth and ashes (wearing your affliction)

Fasting is done for various reasons. Typically it is associated with affliction and in the Bible affliction is usually expressed visually by wearing sackcloth and ashes.

Sackcloth was made of black goats wool and was thick, rough, and coarse. It was uncomfortable (pertaining to the sense of touch) to wear and was normally used to make sacks. It was also used as an outward sign of affliction (Genesis 37:34; 42:25; 2 Samuel 3:31; Esther 4:1 Esther 4:2; Psalms 30:11). There is no description in the Bible of a particular garment that was made from it. If they obtained it from a sack it would have no appealing shape. It would only be worn if you were destitute and had no alternative to covering your personal areas.

When Hezekiah was to be besieged by Rabshakeh he wore his affliction before the Lord.

II Kings 19:1 [KJV] And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

Sackcloth was often accompanied by torn clothes. This means that it would not have been worn on its own. Torn clothes demonstrated a torn or broken heart.

Joel 2:13 [KJV] And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Ashes were an outward sign of desolation, and ruin. Ashes are created when everything organic is consumed. Ashes are not the same as dust. Ashes are lifeless and can be harmful while dust has all sorts of organic matter combined. Typically plants cannot grow in pure ashes. Ashes don't decompose. While ashes are composed of nutrients that plants require it to likely also contain an extremely high amount of salt, which is toxic for most plants. In addition ashes lack several other essential micronutrients such as manganese, carbon, and zinc.

Wail and howl (sounding your affliction)

Wailing is an emotional outburst caused by pain. Probably the most famous verses on wailing are in Matthew:

Matthew 13:42 [KJV] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth
Matthew 13:50 [KJV] And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth

You can see here that the pain is so intense that people are grinding their teeth. For some people their greatest pain is associated with money.

Revelation 18:15 [KJV] The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
Revelation 18:19 [KJV] And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

These people were crying because of financial loss. Their god was mammon and without it their lives descended into hopelessness. Intense pain can originate from various sources and typically one reaction is wailing or crying.

Jeremiah 9:17-22 [KJV] Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come: 18 And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. 19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out. 20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation. 21 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets. 22 Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.

Bread of affliction (eating your affliction)

Bread of affliction is defined in the Bible as unleavened bread.

Deuteronomy 16:3 [KJV] Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life

Here it is a reminder of their willingness to sacrifice earthly conveniences in order to serve the true God. Daniel shows the same approach.

Daniel 10:3 [KJV] I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

In both cases the things were available but focusing on God was more important. When we are really suffering we often lose our appetite anyway. We can use our food as a way of seeking God and focusing on serving him. While fasting is the extreme case the principle may be employed differently depending on the situation. That is to say that it does not make sense to fast while simultaneously eating unleavened bread, but eating unleavened bread alone can substitute for fasting. Water is still not available but if you are diabetic you might consider this alternative. 

More in the meanings

Fast is translated from Strongs H6684 tsuwm (tsoom) v.
  • to cover over (the mouth), i.e. to fast.
  • [a primitive root]
  • KJV: X at all, fast.

In the remainder of this article I want to trace that word through the Bible and distil a list of items that we can use as aids in fasting. This is the list:

  • Fasting is used in seeking justice.
  • Fasting is used in repentance.
  • Fasting is used in showing grief and sorrow.
  • Fasting is an appeal to God to take action.
  • Fasting to pervert justice and fasting without repentance are not accepted by God.
  • In addition to being the proper reaction to an overwhelming turn of events, fasting is a time to sing and praise God.
  • Fasting is used to appeal to God in fear of an oppressor.
  • Fasting is used in sorrow at the condition of God's Temple which we are.
  • Confessing and mourning over our transgressions is an appropriate purpose of fasting.
  • We fast and mourn to demonstrate our helplessness and our dependence on God.
  • Fasting is done in support of someone who is put at risk on behalf of God's people.
  • Fasting is done when we are unjustly under assault by an enemy.
  • Fasting is done when we are the whipping boy.
  • Withholding vengeance and fasting instead is a godly choice, not because we lacked the ability, opportunity, skill, or courage to do otherwise.
  • Fasting is for when we are in anguish and want relief for the downtrodden not to advance our personal ambitions.
  • People can take even the most holy things and abuse them but God rejects fasting motivated by rebellion to Him.
  • Fasting is done when we do not understand and seek understanding.
  • A fast may deter God's judgement.
  • Fasting is done in fear of the consequences of God's wrath.
  • We should fast and mourn when God warns us before the trouble comes.

Justice against Benjamin

The background to this is that a Levite was travelling and lodged among the Benjamites. The house was assaulted and his concubine abused and murdered. Upon escaping he cut her in pieces and sent the pieces across Israel. The Israelites sought justice against Benjamin but the Benjamites defeated them in battle.

Judges 20:26-28 (KJV) Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted (H6684) that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 27 And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, 28 And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

They were faced with a challenge and they submitted to the will of the Lord. They did not go and hire mercenaries or abandon what they saw was right. Fasting was an act of worship that showed their willingness to submit to the sovereignty of God.

Judges 20:1 (KJV) Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

Mizpeh was a city belonging to the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 18:26). It seems that they had either traveled with the ark of God or it was kept there at the time because it was there (verse 27). So the Benjamites, the ones that were doing the wickedness, were the ones entrusted with the ark and this was a national spontaneous fast to pursue righteousness against them. Fasting is used in seeking justice.

The Philistines

This is coming to the end of the time of the Judges since Samuel was the last judge. It seems like the Ark was then kept in Shiloh where Eli lived and where Samuel was raised.

I Samuel 4:4 [KJV] So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

Israel took the ark to battle against the Philistines and were defeated. The ark was confiscated by the Philistines but it plagued them and broke their god Dagon. For the seven months that it remained with them it plagued them so that they moved it from town to town, but each time the town that it was in suffered. The Philistines returned the ark and it eventually came to Kirjathjearim. While it was there Samuel encouraged Israel that if they turned back to the Lord wholeheartedly then He would redeem them from the Philistines. Interestingly he told them to gather at Mizpeh, probably because of what God had done for them there against Benjamin.

Look at what happened first: repentance.

I Samuel 7:3-4 [KJV] And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

Then they fasted.

1 Samuel 7:6 (KJV) And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted (H6684) on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
I Samuel 7:16 [KJV] And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places

Beth-el was where Jacob first encountered God.

Genesis 28:19 [KJV] And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

Gilgal was where they set up the memorial after crossing the Jordan.

Joshua 4:20 [KJV] And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal

Mizpeh was the place of judgement against Benjamin and now against the Philistines.

God routed the Philistines. Israel fasted and admitted their guilt and submitted to the justice of the Lord. Their grief showed that they valued the Ark of God and what it represented. Their repentance to God showed who they looked to. Because of all this their appeal to God was heard. Fasting is used in repentance.

Death and defeat of Saul

I Samuel 31:12-13 [KJV] All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted (H6684) seven days.
1 Chronicles 10:12 (KJV) They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted (H6684) seven days.
2 Samuel 1:12 (KJV) And they mourned, and wept, and fasted (H6684) until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

Just an aside but maybe re. I Samuel 31:12 they burned the bodies because they had begun to decompose. The bones that were left were taken to be buried. Saul was their first king. At first he was blessed with the Holy Spirit.

I Samuel 10:9 [KJV] And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.

It is something that God also did with David and perhaps all the righteous leaders that He gave to Israel.

I Samuel 10:6 [KJV] And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
I Samuel 16:13 [KJV] Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah

David made his mistakes too but when confronted he turned to God, but that is for next. Leaders have a great responsibility.

Exodus 32:21 [KJV] And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

In Saul's case he did like Aaron and blamed the people.

I Samuel 15:13-15 [KJV] And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

The rest of the incident is found in the remaining verses of I Samuel 15. It is very sad. Saul admitted his sin but somehow there was something that prevented his full repentance. It appears to have been pride in wanting to be seen as important in the eyes of the people. Saul was weak spiritually but he never led the nation into open rebellion against God as some later leaders did. Saul's end was very sad. Apparently the people loved him but it is God's love that matters most. The people were distraught and fasted in mourning. We will see from the incident with David and his child that Israel understood fasting as mourning. They could not understand why David would fast while the child was alive but stop when it was dead. This is not necessarily an appeal to God but an expression of grief, a reaction to a great loss, however in the case of the nation grieving for Saul, fasting is used in showing grief and sorrow.

David and his child from Bathsheba

David prays that God would spare his child (2 Samuel 12:16). We see here that this fasting is an appeal to God to take action (2 Samuel 12:21-23). Look at the whole thing in context.

II Samuel 12:15-23 [KJV] And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted (H6684) , and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead? 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast (H6684) and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted (H6684) and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast (H6684) ? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

Jezebel writes letters against Naboth

Wicked people can use fasting too. Just because somebody joins themselves to you in an act of righteousness does not mean that they are sincere.

In this narrative two different Hebrew words are used for fast but one is the root of the other.

H6685 tsowm (tsome) n-m. tsom (tsome)
  • a fast.
  • [from H6684]
  • KJV: fast(-ing).
  • Root(s): H6684

1 Kings 21:9 (KJV) And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast (H6685) , and set Naboth on high among the people:

She was using fasting to pervert justice.

I Kings 21:10 [KJV] And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.

1 Kings 21:12 (KJV) They proclaimed a fast (H6685) , and set Naboth on high among the people.

I Kings 21:15-16 [KJV] And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. 16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

Because of this God cursed him by the mouth of Elijah. He told Ahab that he, not Jezebel, had killed because Ahab was responsible. Jezebel was the queen but Ahab was the king of Israel. Then it continues as before with H6684

1 Kings 21:27 (KJV) And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted (H6684) , and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

Ahab had genuine remorse and showed fear of God. In spite of this he did not repent and bring Jezebel to heel. As a result he and his lineage were cut off. These are two approaches to fasting that did not bear good fruit. Fasting to pervert justice and fasting without repentance are not accepted by God.

Jehoshaphat, invaded by Moab and Ammon, proclaims a fast

2 Chronicles 20:3 (KJV) And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast (H6685) throughout all Judah.

Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah that went to Ahab and joined him in that battle where Ahab was killed. That story is found in II Chronicles 19. He was subsequently warned by God.

II Chronicles 19:2-3 [KJV] And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. 3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.

Some time after that the Moabites joined with the Ammonites and attempted to invade Judah. We read of Jehoshaphat's initial reaction as fasting and proclaiming a fast above in 2 Chronicles 20:3, then he went on to this:

II Chronicles 20:4-13 [KJV] And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

God responded through His prophet Jahaziel.

II Chronicles 20:15 [KJV] And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's

They did not have to lift a finger. All they did was sing and praise God.

II Chronicles 20:21-22 [KJV] And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

In addition to being the proper reaction to an overwhelming turn of events, fasting is a time to sing and praise God.

Ezra seeks help from God

Ezra had been given leave from Artaxerxes king of Persia to return to Jerusalem and rebuild it and its temple. He gathered the people and this is how he proceeded.

Ezra 8:21-23 (KJV) Then I proclaimed a fast (H6684) there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. 22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. 23 So we fasted (H6684) and besought our God for this: and he was in treated of us.

He said that they fasted because they had claimed that their God was a mighty God who could look after them so they looked to Him instead of embarrassing Him by looking to the military might of a state. Fasting is used to appeal to God in fear of an oppressor.

Nehemiah fasts over the condition of Jerusalem

Israel was God's Church in the wilderness. Nehemiah had heard of the physical condition of the place where God placed His name.

Nehemiah 1:4-9 (KJV) And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted (H6684), and prayed before the God of heaven, 5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: 6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my fathers house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

Today the place where God places His name is on Christians: Christ-ians. We can see the decay in our faith and the wretched state of our commitment to God. When we see this condition in ourselves or the body of Christ we should fast. Fasting is used in sorrow at the condition of God's Temple which we are.

The people fast in repentance

Nehemiah had rallied the people together and in chapter 8 of his book they found the book of the law. Their first reaction was to obey the Law and keep the feast with joy as commanded (Deuteronomy 16:13-15). Since it was short notice and they had lots of work to do they focused on that first. After the feast was finished they gathered to fast and mourn in repentance. They confessed and mourned over their transgressions as that is an appropriate purpose of fasting.

Nehemiah 9:1-3 [KJV] Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, (H6685) and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. 2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

Esther and God's people fast

I feel that I must submit this bit of background to explain the helplessness of the situation. Haman was a descendant of Agag, the king of the Amalekites. God had commanded King Saul to exterminate all the Amalekites and everything that they owned (1 Samuel 15:1–3) because of what they had done to Israel (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Although Saul began the effort he did not complete it wholeheartedly and was reprimanded. Haman was the Grand Vizier in the Persian empire (Esther 3:1). Perhaps that is why Haman hated Jews. It was compounded by the fact that Mordecai would not bow down to him (Esther 3:2). The Bible does not state why Mordecai refused the king's command concerning Haman but it appears to have something to do with Haman's background and character. Haman wanted Mordecai to worship him.

Exodus 20:4-5 [KJV] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

It occurs during the reign of the Persian king Ahasuerus. He had deposed his wife queen Vashti for disobeying him. Because of her beauty Esther was chosen as her replacement. Mordecai is Esther's cousin and guardian. Haman plots to have all the Jewish subjects of Persia killed, and convinces Ahasuerus to make it law. Once made law it cannot be changed.

Daniel 6:8 [KJV] Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not

In chapter 3 of the book of Esther Haman sets his plot in motion.

Esther 3:6 [KJV] And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

When the plot was uncovered there was great mourning among the people. They fasted and mourned to demonstrate their helplessness and their dependence on God.

Esther 4:3 (KJV) And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting (H6685), and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Nobody expressed their affliction more grievously than Mordecai.

Esther 4:1-2 [KJV] When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 And came even before the kings gate: for none might enter into the kings gate clothed with sackcloth.

Mordecai's situation came to the attention of the queen who sent and inquired about the cause of his grief. Esther knew how seriously the Persian kings took their law and how important respect was to Ahasuerus so she would be putting her life at risk to approach him on the matter.

Esther 4:10-11 [KJV] Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 11 All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

Queen Esther was willing to approach the king at the risk of her own life if she was fully supported by her kinsmen in fasting to their God.

Esther 4:16 (KJV) Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

God turned Haman's evil intentions against him and he was hung on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. The Jews established Purim to remember their plight and their deliverance.

Esther 9:31 (KJV) To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings (H6685) and their cry.

This fasting was in support of someone who was put at risk on behalf of God's people.

David

PSALM 35

We know from the title that this is a psalm of David. It is classified as one of the Imprecatory Psalms, which in strong terms ask God to defeat and destroy the enemies of His people. As you read through the book of Psalms, the Imprecatory Psalms become more intense. Psalm 7 is perhaps the mildest, while some count at least 30 curses in Psalm 109.

Based on what I have read, David wrote this around the time he ran from Saul the first time, and he had just faked insanity in front of Abimelech, who drove him away. Psalm 34 was clearly written at that time, and since this immediately follows that it must be a hint to the timing, but also the internal evidence corroborates that hypothesis. I Samuel 20 records David's last meeting with Jonathan before he has to become a fugitive from Saul. After the incident with arrows that was formulated to tell David the heart of Saul toward him, he and Jonathan parted ways sorrowfully. In I Samuel 21 David and his men were hungry and he needed a weapon presumably to hunt. He went to the priest Ahimelech to beg for food and was given shewbread and the sword of Goliath the Philistine. He left and went to Achish the king of Gath but was recognised, so he pretended to be mad in order to escape. Saul discovered that the priest had innocently fed him and murdered the priest. So David was being hunted by someone to whom he had shown only love and genuine concern, and was cast out from the people whom he had delivered from Goliath.

It is important to recognise at times like that who is the real enemy, in David's case it was not really Saul. David in his afflictions, Christ in his sufferings, the Church facing persecution, and each Christian in the hour of trial will all appeal to the Almighty to vindicate our cause. If God is our Friend then we do not need to fear the enemy but we need to recognise who the real enemy is, or we could hurt those who are merely victims. Saul hurt a victim. As Christians we recognise that there is a spiritual battle with spiritual enemies and humans are largely being used. Saul thought that killing David would fix all his problems. David knew that he had a clear conscience towards Saul.

David was falsely accused. In real life all of us are culpable to some degree or another. David's motives are not for revenge; he had opportunities to kill Saul but did not. Rather, it is a plea for God's righteous judgment. The motive is that David might once again thank God freely and in peace (verses 18, 28). He wanted honesty and truth to prevail and that can only happen when we knock down the enemy of truth and goodness.

Psalm 35 is a powerful prayer from someone who is under assault unjustly, and fasting helped David.

Psalms 35:13 (KJV) But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting (H6685); and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

Fasting is done when we are unjustly under assault by an enemy.

PSALM 69

One commentary by a man called Gordon Churchyard calls this the whipping boy psalm and I like that description. This psalm is quoted in Acts 1:20 when Peter identified it as from the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David (Acts 1:16). Again in Romans 11:9, Paul identifies his next quotation as from David and he cites a portion of this psalm (Psalm 69:22-23). In spite of this some people believe that Jeremiah wrote it. Both David and Jeremiah had enemies so you can pick which you like. In this type of distress David again resorts to fasting.

Psalms 69:10 (KJV) When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting (H6685), that was to my reproach.

David suffered this indignity. Maybe it is because when God tells someone something through a messenger and they cannot get back at God they may attack the messenger as a whipping boy. Fasting is done when we are the whipping boy.

PSALM 109

It is certain that David wrote this psalm. When exactly is unclear because there are so many possibilities: when he was persecuted by Saul, when his son Absalom held the coup against him, or some other trouble that he found himself in.

This is a very strongly worded psalm. It is the strongest of what are known as the imprecatory psalms, David's songs that call down curses upon his enemies. This is the same David that wrote of love and peacefulness, but that was not the whole of his character and hence it is not the whole of God's. It is important to remember that these are prayers, committing vengeance unto God and not taking it into his own hands. David left vengeance up to God. When David withheld vengeance and fasted instead, it was because he chose to, not because he lacked the ability, opportunity, skill, or courage. Even the unchristian knew this approach, Acts 5:34-39. What David resorted to in his anguish was fasting.

Psalms 109:24 (KJV) My knees are weak through fasting (H6685); and my flesh faileth of fatness.

Isaiah

Isaiah condemns counterfeit fasting.

IIsaiah 58:3-7 (KJV) Wherefore have we fasted (H6684), say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast (H6685) ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. 4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast (H6684) as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast (H6685) that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast (H6685), and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6 Is not this the fast (H6685) that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

In the imprecatory psalms David fasted but not to bring harm to others. David fasted because he was in anguish. Some people are prospering and face no threat of harm from others but want harm to come to others and fast about it. There is nothing holy about that. Fasting is for when we are in anguish and want relief for the downtrodden not to advance our personal ambitions.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah also condemned wrong and unholy fasting. People do things when they want to appear righteous but their motivation is evil and the Bible teaches us to discern the difference.

Jeremiah 14:12 (KJV) When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Remember that God's calendar began in the spring so nine months takes us past the feast of Tabernacles down into winter. The people were doing what they thought was good so they did not want to hear Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 36:6 (KJV) Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD'S house upon the fasting (H6685) day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.

It seems like Jeremiah's book was read at a Christmas fast.

Jeremiah 36:9 (KJV) And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast (H6685) before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.

People can take even the most holy things and abuse them. God rejects fasting motivated by rebellion to Him.

Daniel

Daniel fasted because he understood that the captivity should be at an end according to Jeremiah but yet Israel was captive in Babylon. He could not understand. Daniel's fast was therefore a fast to gain understanding and an appeal for the deliverance of his people who were also God's people.

Daniel 9:3 (KJV) And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting(H6685), and sackcloth, and ashes:

In the remainder of his prayer we see that Daniel was fasting for deliverance for his people not bondage for anyone. He wanted God to hurry up and keep His word. As a result this happened:

Daniel 9:20-22 [KJV] And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

Fasting is done when we do not understand and seek understanding.

Joel

Joel teaches that a fast may deter God's judgement. If we truly repent when God warns us then He may defer his actions against us.

Joel 1:14 (KJV) Sanctify ye a fast (H6685), call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,

Joel 2:12-15 (KJV) Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting (H6685), and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast (H6685), call a solemn assembly:

Nineveh

Nineveh repented at the words of Jonah. The key thing here is that they feared God like Rahab and the Gibeonites and others so they received mercy. Fasting in reaction to God's truth represents a deep fear of the word of God and God sees it.

Jonah 3:5-9 (KJV) So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast (H6685), and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Fasting is done in fear of the consequences of God's wrath.

Zechariah

Zechariah 7:5 (KJV) Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted (H6684) and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?

This was concerning the fasts that they had instituted after events in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. It is not speaking of Atonement. God wants to know if they did not know about fasting and obedience in the years when they were at peace. It is disobedience that got them the punishment and fasting was not the remedy now. These fasts were proclaimed by men of Judah on the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months of the year to commemorate the terrible events that came upon them during the final defeat by the Babylonians. They are recorded in Jeremiah 52 and 41.

Zechariah 8:19 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast (H6685) of the fourth month, and the fast (H6685) of the fifth, and the fast (H6685) of the seventh, and the fast (H6685) of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

We should fast and mourn when God warns us before the trouble comes.