Based on an idea by Dr. Wayne J. Gerber
Fasting is abstaining from food for a certain period of time. Fasting is an act of self-denial and humility before God. It is usually accompanied by prayer. Fasting and prayer show that we recognize how much we depend on God and how much we rely on His intervention in our lives.
Jesus did not command His disciples to fast as some ongoing practice, but He did expect them to fast voluntarily under certain circumstances. Beginning with two examples of fasting, we will look at what is said about fasting in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. After that we will turn to the questions of how we should fast and what some of the benefits of fasting are.
EXAMPLES OF FASTING
1. Ezra 8:21–23 — Why did Ezra proclaim a fast for everyone?
21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. (Ezra 8:21–23)
2. Psalm 35:13 — How did the psalmist humble his soul?
12 They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved. 13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, (Psalm 35:12–13)
What do these examples teach us about fasting?
FASTING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. 1 Samuel 1:6–7 — What difficult circumstances led Hannah to fast?
6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. (1 Samuel 1:6–7)
2. 2 Samuel 1:12 — Why did David and his men fast?
12 They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. (2 Samuel 1:12)
3. 2 Samuel 12:15–16 — Why did David fast and pray?
15 After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. (2 Samuel 12:15–16)
4. Ezra 10:6 — Why did Ezra fast?
6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. (Ezra 10:6)
5. Esther 4:15–16 — Why did Esther fast?
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:15–16)
6. Joel 1:13–15 — Why did the prophet Joel call for a nationwide fast?
13 Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. 14 Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. 15 Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. (Joel 1:13–15)
Under what special circumstances did people fast in the Old Testament?
- Barrenness — Hannah
- Death (defeat) — David and his men for Saul and Jonathan
- A sick child — David for his child born of the sin with Bathsheba
- Repentance for sin and intercession — Ezra over the transgressions of the people during the exile
- The threat of destruction and death — Esther
- Crisis and fear of God’s judgment — Joel
FASTING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. Matthew 9:14–15 — When did Jesus say His disciples would fast?
14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, 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. (Matthew 9:14–15)
2. Luke 18:12 — How often did the Pharisees fast?
12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ (Luke 18:12)
3. Acts 13:1–3 — Why and on what occasions did the early church fast?
1 Now 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. (Acts 13:1–3)
- Seeking guidance from God — v. 2;
- Ordination and the asking of blessing and protection — v. 3
4. Acts 14:23 — When did Paul and Barnabas fast and pray?
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. (Acts 14:23)
- When they had to choose and ordain leaders for the churches they had founded
What are some of the occasions and reasons for which the people of the New Testament fasted?
HOW SHOULD WE FAST?
1. Isaiah 58:3–7 — Is there a connection between fasting and the conduct of the one who fasts?
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 people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in 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 them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? (Isaiah 58:3–7)
2. Matthew 6:16–18 — What does Jesus teach about the way in which we should fast?
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, 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 others 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. (Matthew 6:16–18)
What have we learned about the right way in which we should fast?
- Our fasting must come with the right disposition of soul — with humility;
- On a day of fasting we must abstain from fleshly pleasures and conflicts;
- On a day of fasting we must bless people and do good;
- Our fasting must be before God, not before people.
SOME BENEFITS OF FASTING
1. 1 Kings 21:27–29 — What happened when King Ahab fasted?
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. 28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.” (1 Kings 21:27–29)
2. Jonah 3:5–10 — What did the Ninevites avoid through their fast?
5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When Jonah’s warning 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 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals 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 relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:5–10)
3. Matthew 6:17–18 — What is the benefit of fasting before God, and not before people?
17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others 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. (Matthew 6:17–18)
What other benefits of fasting can you think of?
- Isaiah 58:8–9
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. (Isaiah 58:8–9)
APPLICATION
Fasting is meant to be a voluntary practice for the disciple of Christ. And yet we want to encourage you to fast — not because it is a command, but because fasting is a right and fitting expression of humility and prayer under certain circumstances.
- When you find yourself in a difficult or impossible situation, do not wonder what to do — fast.
- Fast also when you want to show God how much you depend on Him.
- Fast when you are praying for a specific need but have no immediate answer.
- And finally, fast in order to humble your soul. For God opposes the proud, but to the humble He gives grace!