Chapter 15
FASTING
(Matthew 6:16-18)
Before we begin our study let us pray,
Dear Heavenly Father, Almighty God
We come before You in the Name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Father we ask You to please bless this study of Your Word. Please cause us to better understand the reasons why we are to fast and how we are to do it. Father God we ask this for Your Holy Name's sake.
Amen
INTRODUCTION
We begin our study by reading the definition of what it means to fast. According to Webster's New Word Dictionary to fast means:
To abstain from all or certain foods, as in observing a holy day.
With this definition in mind, in our study we will explore the answers to the following questions:
1. When should we fast?
2. How are we to fast?
3. Is the fast applicable for the New Testament times?
THE TIMES WHEN WE SHOULD FAST
As we read the Bible we discover there are at least two times in our walk with God when we should fast. The first time or periods of our life when we should fast is when we feel moved by the Holy Spirit to,
REND OUR HEART (OR) PERFORM AN ACT OF REPENTANCE
To see this let us first read about,
The Example of Israel
Because of Israel's constant idolatry and falling away from God's ways, God sent several prophets to warn them that He was about to send the Babylonian army to destroy their cities and take the people captive. One such prophet was a man named Joel. For this study let us read what the Lord said to the nation of Israel after He told them about the impending invasion. The passage of interest is in,
Joel 2:12-14
"'[12] Even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' [13] Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. [14] Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing-- grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God."
Let us notice the following verses,
12 … The Lord told the people to return to Him with all their heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning.
13 … Our Lord told the people to not only put on an outward show of repentance. Instead, our God wanted them and now us to whole heartily come to Him.
Our next illustration to fast as an expression of repentance comes from,
The Example of Nineveh
Because of their great wickedness God decided He was going to destroy Nineveh, the capital city of the gentile country of Assyria. However, before He sent forth His judgement God sent Jonah to warn the citizens of Nineveh. To read about this event and how the people of Nineveh responded to God's warning let us read from,
Jonah 3:1-10
"[1] Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: [2] "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." [3] Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city--a visit required three days. [4] On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." [5] The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. [6] When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. [7] Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. [8] But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. [9] Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." [10] When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened."
Let us notice the following verses,
4 … Through the prophet Jonah God cried out to the people of Nineveh that in forty days He was going to overthrow their city.
5 … The people of Nineveh believed God had spoken to them through the prophet Jonah. Fearing what God was about to do and in the hope that God would change His mind, they repented from their sinful ways. Consequently, to indicate great sorrow, the people proclaimed a fast and wore sackcloth, which was a very basic and course clothing.
6-9 … Even the king repented and proclaimed a fast.
10 … God saw their sincere repentance and changed His mind about the judgements He was about to inflict upon Nineveh.
The second time or periods of when we should fast is when we are earnestly,
SEEKING GOD IN PRAYER AND PETITION
Perhaps the best way to gain some insight into these times of our life is to examine some examples that God has provided for us in His Word. For this study we will examine the examples of: (1) Esther and (2) David.
Let us begin with,
The Example of Esther
The time of Ester was between the Israelites’ first and second wave of migration from their Babylonian captivity to return to Jerusalem and the promised land of Canaan. Thus, at the time of Esther much of the Jewish nation still dwelt in Babylon which was now under the authority of the Persian King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes. During the time of Esther King Ahasuerus, that is Xerxes, promoted a man named Haman to a very exhaled position within the Persian government. Haman's position was so high that King Xerxes issued a command that all his subjects were to bow before Haman and pay him homage. Mordecai, a Jew, who was Esther's uncle and guardian refused to follow this command. Haman was so furious that he decided to destroy all of Mordecai's people, that is all the Jews living under the authority and control of the Persian government. To see this let us read from,
Esther 3:5-6
"[5] When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. [6] Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes."
After Haman's decree to destroy all the Jewish people was published and ratified by the king, Mordecai and the Jewish population discovered their fate. This is recorded in,
Esther 4:1-3
"[1] When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. [2] But he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. [3] In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes."
During this time in Israel’s history Esther was selected by King Xerxes to be his queen. However, Queen Esther, under the council of Mordecai, did not reveal to the king that she was a Jew (Esther 2:20). Even so Mordecai asked Queen Esther to ask the king to resend this proclamation. Upon reading Mordecai’s request Queen Ester wrote Mordecai a note stating that the only way a person could enter the inner court and speak with the king was if the king summoned them.
To read Esther’s reply and Mordecai’s response we go to,
Esther 4:11-17
[11] “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” [12] So they told Mordecai Esther’s words. [13] And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. [14] For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” [15] Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: [16] “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” [17] So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.
Let us notice the following verses,
13 … Mordecai reminded Esther that being a Jew she will not escape Haman's decree.
14 … Mordecai indicated to Esther that perhaps it was for this very reason God allowed her to be chosen as King Xerxes’ Queen.
16 … Esther responded by asking for all the Jews to fast for three days. Then after the three days she said that even though she was not summoned by the king she would take the risk and go and try to speak with him.
As one continues to read the account of Esther one finds that King Xerxes allowed Ester to speak with him. After a series of remarkable events, obviously orchestrated by God, King Xerxes had Haman put to death. In addition, under the request of Queen Esther, King Xerxes had another decree written. In this decree the Jewish population was given permission to defend themselves and destroy their enemies. Thus, the Jewish population within the Persian Empire was saved.
Does this mean that if my prayer is accompanied by fasting, I will be guaranteed that God will answer in the manner I desire? Not necessarily. To see this let us consider,
The Example of King David
This example comes to us after King David had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba. As a result of their affair Bathsheba became pregnant. To avoid being found out King David had her husband, Uriah, killed in battle. After the death of Uriah, David married Bathsheba. At this point one might conclude that David thought that all was well. However, God saw and knew all what David had done. Consequently, God sent His prophet Nathan to rebuke David. With this background let us begin by reading what transpired between Nathan and King David. It is recorded for us in,
2 Samuel 12:1-14
"[1] The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. [2] The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, [3] but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. [4] "Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him." [5] David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! [6] He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." [7] Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. [8] I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. [9] Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. [10] Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.' [11] "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. [12] You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.'" [13] Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. [14] But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.""
Let us notice the following verses,
1-4 … The Lord sent His prophet, Nathan, to David with a story of how a rich man took the poor man's lamb for his dinner.
5-6 … David responded to the story by telling Nathan that the rich man deserved to be killed and should pay back to the poor man four times of what the lamb was worth.
7-12 … God, through Nathan, told David that he is the rich man. He told David that because he had Uriah killed by the sword, the sword will not leave David's house. In addition God will allow David's wives be taken, in broad daylight, by someone close to him.
13 … David acknowledged his sin to God. Consequently, God took away David's sin. In other words, God forgave David and spared his life. However, this did not mean that God was also going to take away the physical consequences of David's sin. As one read further in the history of David, we find that David's favorite son Absalom, rose up against him. In fact Absalom seized the throne, drove David out of Jerusalem and then, in broad daylight, took David's wives. It was only after David's army defeated Absalom in a bloody battle that King David was able to return to Jerusalem. If all this was not difficult enough we also fine in verse 14b God told King David that the child he fathered with Bathsheba was to die.
The message here is the same for us. Specifically, so that we will not lose our salvation God will forgive us of our sins. However, we still may have to live with the consequence of our actions.
Let us return to 2 Samuel and notice the following verse,
14a … First of all, other translations such as the New King James Version (NKIV) and the American Standard Bible utilize the word blasphemy instead of the word contempt. To expand upon this verse let us read the following excerpt from Matthew Henry’s commentary:
“David had by his sin, wronged God in His honor; he had given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. The wicked people of that generation, the infidels, idolaters, and profane, would triumph in David’s fall, and speak ill of God and His law, when they saw one guilty of such foul enormities that professed such an honor both for him and it. “These are your professors! This is he that prays and sings psalms, and is so very devout! What good can there be in such exercises, if they will not restrain men from adultery and murder”?”
This is a good object lesson for you and me. Specifically, we, the born again believer in Jesus Christ must make every effort to insure that how we behave, what we say or do would not be a stumbling block or a reason for the unbeliever to reject or blaspheme God.
After Nathan finished declaring God's judgments he went home. Subsequently, God inflicted the child with a deadly illness. This is recorded in,
2 Samuel 12:15
"[15] After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill."
Upon seeing the child's illness, King David fasted and petitioned God to save the child. This is recorded in,
2 Samuel 12:16-17
"[16] David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. [17] The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them."
Even though David prayed and fasted, God's will prevailed and the child died. To see this let us read from,
2 Samuel 12:18-19
"[18] On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate." [19] David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked. "Yes," they replied, "he is dead.""
Let us now read what King David did after he found out that the child he fathered died. His actions are recorded for us in,
2 Samuel 12:20-23
"[20] Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. [21] His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" [22] He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' [23] But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.""
Let us notice the following verses,
22 … In other words, while the child was still alive there was hope that God would change His mind. Hence, King David fasted and wept before God to save the child from death.
23 … But now that the child died and returned to God, there was no longer any reason to fast and weep for the child.
This brings us to the message for this portion of our study. Specifically, no matter how we pray or agonize in the end,
GOD’S WILL BE DONE
To see this we go to Gethsemane to read how Jesus prayed just before He was arrested, humiliated and nailed to the cross to physically die. To see this we go to,
Matthew 26:36-42
[36] Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” [37] And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. [38] Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” [39] He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” [40] Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? [41] Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [42] Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
Unfortunately, as with all the other feasts and religious ordinances that God, through Moses, commanded Israel to do, the fast also became a mere ritualistic religious activity. In other words, the fast became just an external demonstration to show one's supposed holiness.
We see this through the following question our Lord posed via His prophet Zechariah. The Scripture of interest is in,
Zechariah 7:4-6
"[4] Then the word of the LORD Almighty came to me: [5] "Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? [6] And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?"
Let us notice the following verse,
5 … In other words, God asked His people if they fasted to seek Him and recall that He is Lord or did they fast for their own glory or benefit?
6 … This reminds us of the instruction we have been given in the New Testament to do all things unto God. To refresh our memories let us read from,
1 Corinthians 10:31
"[31] So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
This now brings us to our instruction of,
THE WAY WE ARE TO FAST
To understand how our Lords desires His people to fast, we first go to,
Isaiah 58:1-11
""[1] Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. [2] For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. [3] 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. [4] Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. [5] Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? [6] "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? [7] Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? [8] Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. [9] Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, [10] and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. [11] The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Let us notice the following verses,
1-4(a) ... In these verses we read how God chastised the nation of Israel for their lack of serious repentance. He asked them and now us: "Why do we seek Him and His ways if we refuse to follow Him and comply with His commands?"
4(b) … If we fast without repentance from our sinful way, then God said He will not hear us.
5-7 … The fast that God has chosen for us is one in which we humble ourselves, admit our wrongs doings, confess our selfishness and are willing to have our lives changed so as to follow His commands. In other words, it is not only a one or two day time of repentance and walk with God. Our God desires us to love Him, seek Him and obey Him all the days of our life.
8-11 … Within these verses God reveals the blessings we can expect to receive if we fast in accordance to His will and desires.
In addition to the above, we are not to fast in a manner that draws attention to our selves. To see this let us read from,
Matthew 6:16-18
""[16] When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. [17] But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, [18] so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Before we close our study there is one more question to be addressed. Specifically, "Is the fast for today?" The answer to this question is: "Yes."
THE FAST IS FOR TODAY
To see this we will first read the instruction our Lord Jesus Christ gave on this subject. Then, we will read to see that the New Testament church, identified in the book of Acts, indeed followed our Lord's instruction.
The first time Jesus made it clear that the fast is appropriate for today was during the time when the disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus why they fasted and yet His disciples did not. Jesus' response to the disciples of John the Baptist can be found in,
Matthew 9:14-15
"[14] Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" [15] Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast."
In other words Jesus told the disciples of John that as long as He was physically with His disciples there was no need for them to fast. However, Jesus did say that after He returned to Heaven then His disciples will fast.
As we read the New Testament we find that this is exactly what the church did, that is they fasted. To see this let us first read what they did before they sent Barnabas and Saul (who is also identified as Paul) on their first missionary journey. Their actions are recorded in,
Acts 13:1-3
"[1] In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. [2] While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." [3] So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off."
Let us notice the following verses,
2 … While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit told the church to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work God called them to do.
For another example to see that the New Testament church fasted let us read what the disciples said and did after God raised Paul from the stoning he received for preaching the Gospel. This event is recorded for us in,
Acts 14:19-23
"[19] Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. [20] But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. [21] They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, [22] strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. [23] Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust."
Let us notice the following verses,
19 … The Apostle Paul was stoned for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Also note that the stoning was so severe that the people thought Paul was dead.
20 … However, God raised Paul up and he left for the city of Derbe.
22 … We too must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. In other words, because of our love, faith and devotion to Jesus Christ we can expect to be mocked, laughed at and possibly persecuted by the unbelieving world.
23 … After Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for each of the churches they committed them to God with prayer and fasting.
Thus, we clearly find that the fast is certainly for today.
CLOSING
With all this in mind let us now close our study by reading the following instruction God the Holy Spirit has given to each and every born again believer in Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 5:6-11
"[6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. [7] Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. [8] Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [9] Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. [10] And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. [11] To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
Blessed be the Lord forever,
AMEN and AMEN