I have recently received a request via e-mail, to provide some suggestions on the subject of fasting. Well, as usual the guidance regarding this subject must come from the Bible itself, hence from God Himself. Fasting is something that many people practice to a certain extent these days, but obviously not for spiritual or religious reasons. People mainly do it to lose those extra pounds so they can look slim and healthy. Naturally, the Biblical aspect of not eating for a period of time, is completely different. Lets have a look to see what the Bible says about fasting.
Judges 20:26 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 that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
In this case, the children of Israel wanted guidance from God. It was the case where brother was fighting brother, and they wanted God’s advice on what to do. Fasting was one of the ways they used to achieve this contact with God. It was also a way for them to mourn and purify themselves from what they considered as sinful behaviour. We must not forget that the people of the Old Testament didn’t possess holy spirit. Holy spirit was made available after the day of Pentecost, through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. People before the Pentecost, did not have holy spirit in them, and therefore could not achieve the immediate contact with The Holy Spirit that is God. So they used fasting as one of the means to purify themselves, and to achieve this task of getting immediate advice from God.
1 Samuel 7:6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD.
In this case too, fasting came as a means of purification from sin, a way to repent in the eyes of God. Once again this reference is from the Old Testament when the holy spirit wasn’t made available yet.
There are many verses in the 1st Book of Samuel, regarding fasting. In all cases, it has the same context: It is practised as a means of mourning, to achieve purification, and redemption from God. See also 1 Samuel 31:13, 2 Samuel 1:12, 2 Samuel 12 (the whole of this chapter has many references on the subject of fasting as a means of mourning, purification and redemption).
Also in 1 Kings 21:27, 1 Chronicles 10:12, Ezra 8:21 (fasting as a means of receiving advice from God), Ezra 8:23, Nehemiah 1:4, Nehemiah 9:1, Esther 4:3, Esther 4:16, Psalms 35:13, Psalms 69:10, Daniel 9:3, Joel 2:12.
If we read the whole of Isaiah 58, we realise that fasting have no effect whatsoever if it is practised without consideration of God’s Word. This is a great chapter showing how much God despises hypocrisy. Fasting means nothing if it is a one-day-wonder! And after verse 6, it gives the guideline that believers should follow, and promises that God will listen to, and support the ones who keep His Word, fasting or not. True fasting in this sense, is clearly explained at verse 6.
In the New Testament, we see that Jesus also fasted while in the desert (Matthew 4:2). He was about to be tempted by the devil, and he used fasting as a means of getting himself ready for the confrontation. And in another part of the gospel of Matthew, we read:
Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Matthew 6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; Matthew 6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
With these verses Jesus taught that fasting means nothing if it is just for show. It shouldn’t be an exercise in hypocrisy, but rather an exercise in faith. It should be aimed towards God, and not towards fellow believers. It should be exercised in order to obtain appraisal from God, not from people.
Elsewhere on the same chapter we read:
Matthew 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? Matthew 9:15 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.
In this case, the disciples of John the Baptist complained in a way to Jesus, they asked him why they, and the Pharisees do fast, and Jesus’ men don’t. After all, they couldn’t understand why those guys were different. And Jesus gave them a very clear, and very clever example. Jesus was with them then, a living, breathing man walking among them. They had the Son of God with them, they did not have to fast (which as we said before usually was an expression of mourning and purification for the people of that era). Jesus was among them, and this was a fact deserving not fasting, but celebration. Boy, those guys were lucky… And we must not forget that we also today have Jesus, not around us like they did back then, but IN us through the holy spirit that God has given us. Now this is a fact worthy of celebration, or what!!!
However, in the New Testament fasting is a practice that has been encouraged by the word of God. Let’s have a look at 1st Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
After all the above verses, one can easily comprehend the meaning of fasting in the eyes of God. It is a practice that in the case of the Old Testament was meant to express mourning, redemption, and purification. However, we now live in the age of grace. Holy spirit is made available to us thanks to the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, and we can now have Christ in us:
(Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:).
Redemption, and subsequently salvation, has been granted to us BY GOD'S GRACE NOT BY OUR OWN WORKS. We did not work for it, we did not deserve it, it was given to us graciously by God our heavenly Father Who loves us. It was made available through our Lord Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice. This is clear on the verses below:
(Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.)
For believers today, fasting is still a practice encouraged by God. But as we saw in Isaiah 58, fasting is not meant to be just staying away from food or drink, but primarily staying away from wicked thoughts or deeds. This is mostly SPIRITUAL fasting that God is teaching us about, spiritual fasting that ultimately leads to spiritual maturity and quickening, and as a result of that, brings us closer to a better understanding of the Word of God, and greatly amplifies our ability to communicate with Him on a personal level. Thank you for reading this.
Tasos