Fasting: Old Testament and the Present

Sunday, January 23, 2011

FASTING IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES AND THE PRESENT

Last week I gave you a little introduction into biblical fasting. Remember that the various forms of the word “fast” occur 47 times in the Old Testament and 32 in the New. We spent most of our time looking at what the Bible says about the danger of fasting (both from the Old Testament and the New). Jesus warned His followers not to fast like the hypocrites, who did it for the praise of men. We remember the story Jesus told about the tax collector and the Pharisee, and how that Pharisee bragged that he fasted twice a week. So we began by looking squarely at the dangers of fasting before examining the overall practice of biblical fasting and how it relates to us.

Last week I also gave you a hand-out with all the scriptures that contain the word “fast” (with all its forms). As you read through those passages, what did you discover about fasting? Perhaps a more specific question would be better. Throughout the Old Testament, what were the basic purposes of fasting? I am going to suggest four, though some of these purposes are very closely related.

I. Fasting in the Old Testament and Its Purposes

Let’s begin by looking at the first time the word “fast” is used in the Old Testament. It is 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." Notice that they were weeping. Why? Because they had gone out to battle and in two successive days had lost 40,000 soldiers. No wonder they were weeping. So the first thing we see about fasting in the Old Testament is that it was most often associated with grief and mourning. Just think of how many wives, children, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters were crying their eyes out.

Now look at the second occurrence of the word “fast” in 1 Sam. 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. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh." Go back to verse 3 for the context: "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." Notice in verse 6 that the people fasted on that day and said, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Here we see fasting closely associated with repentance. They were convicted of their sins and they repented with fasting.

Now come to Ezra. Remember the context. God’s people Judah had been in exile for 70 years in the land of Babylon. And why were they in Babylon instead of Judah? Because they had rebelled against the Lord their God and God Himself had sent the Babylonians to defeat them and carry them into exile. The prophet Jeremiah had clearly said that they would be there for 70 years (Jer. 25:11). But how could they leave Babylon? God made a way. He put it into the heart of King Cyrus to send them back to Judah and told them to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. So with the full blessing of this pagan King, over 42,000 of them made their way to Jerusalem for the express purpose of rebuilding the temple which the Babylonians had destroyed. Though there was opposition, God empowered them to build the temple.

It is in the seventh chapter of Ezra that we are introduced to the priest Ezra. Now a later king, Artazerxes, gives permission to Ezra and any people who want to join him to return to Judah. Furthermore, he sends with Ezra a letter that is basically a blank check which exempts the Jewish people from all taxes, gives them gold and silver in abundance, and authorizes them to restore temple worship and the law of God in the entire region. But when Ezra and these people get ready to travel, there is one problem. Between Babylon and Judah there are plenty of bandits who would love to destroy them in order to get the generous supply of gold and silver that the king had sent with them. Now let’s read from Ezra 8:21-23…

Then I proclaimed a fast 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 and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.

So what was their purpose in fasting? Clearly they saw fasting as an aid to prayer. They were specifically asking God to protect them on the trip. So as they prayed, they fasted. Ezra proclaimed a fast among all the travelers, and then he gives the simple testimony: “So we fasted and besought our God for this; and he was entreated of us.” They prayed and fasted, and the Lord answered. It’s as simple as that.

So we see that Old Testament fasting was closely associated with mourning, repentance, and prayer. Now let me bring one other aspect into focus by directing us to I Kings 21. The principal actor in this story is Ahab, that terribly wicked king of Israel, who was incited to evil by his wife Jezebel. King Ahab wanted a particular piece of land that was owned by a man named Naboth. The problem was that Naboth refused to sell this piece of property that had long been in the family. When Jezebel found Ahab, he was pouting. “What’s wrong with you Ahab?” “Naboth won’t give me his vineyard, and I want it.” Jezebel consoled him by telling him not to worry about it any more, because she would get the land for him. She carefully arranged it so that Naboth was publicly accused of blaspheming God and the king. As a result, he was stone to death. As soon as Naboth went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard, he was met by the prophet Elijah, and Elijah had bad news. He delivered the Word of the Lord to Ahab, saying, “In the place that dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs like your blood” (I King. 21:19). And that was just the beginning of the bad news. Later you can read for yourself all that Elijah told Ahab. But now come to Ahab’s response in I Kings 21:27-29…

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 28. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.

Ahab was moved by the message of the Lord. So he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth, both of which were signs of mourning and grief, and he fasted. Verse 29 tells us how the Lord Himself interpreted Ahab’s actions. The Lord said to Elijah, “Do you see how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring this evil during his lifetime.” We see that in this case fasting was closely connected to humility.

Now let’s quickly come to a couple of passages which combine all of these ideas. You young ones, why don’t you help me out a little bit. Who was the second and greatest king of Israel? Yes, it was David. What is probably the greatest thing that the Bible says about David? Yes, he was a man after God’s own heart (I Sam. 13:44; Acts 13:22). So was David a perfect man? Can you remember any of his sins? Yes, he was guilty of committing adultery and murder. Did God forgive David? Yes, he did. So were there any consequences for his sin? The most immediate consequence concerned the child who was born to David and Bathsheba. After David acknowledged his wrongdoing by saying, “I have sinned against the Lord,” the prophet Nathan then announced the most immediate consequence: “The Lord also hath put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die” (II Sam. 12:13-14). Now let’s continue in verses 15-16, "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, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth."

David fasted. Why? We are told directly that he was praying that the child might live. Later in this passage we read that when the child died, David ate again. The servants couldn’t understand. If there was great sorrow for the child’s sickness, surely there would be greater sorrow when the child died. But David made it clear that there was no longer any hope for the life of the child, so he would not fast any longer. He had coupled his fasting with his prayer, hoping against hope that God would spare the life of the child. Though we are not directly told, do you think there was sorrow when God struck the child with this deadly sickness? Of course, there was. And what about repentance and humility? Yes. We see all of these attitudes associated with David’s fasting.

Or consider the story of Jonah. God told His servant Jonah to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and pronounce judgment against it. After Jonah refused the first time and then spent three days in the belly of a fish God had prepared, he decided it would be a good idea to deliver the message. In obedience to God, Jonah said to the Ninevites: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4 NKJV). Now let’s read in the rest of the chapter what they did and how God responded… (Jonah 3:5-10 NKJV)

So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. ⁶ Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. ⁷ And he caused itto be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. ⁸But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. ⁹ Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? ¹⁰ Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

Do you see those four attitudes in the people of Nineveh? They certainly were in mourning, as they feared they were all going to die. Yes, they repented with genuine humility. And they were seeking God to let them live. Their fast was an outward expression of those attitudes.

That gives us a pretty good overview of Old Testament fasting. When you think about it, it really isn’t strange at all. If you received news tomorrow morning that your child or grandchild had died, would you have much of an appetite for lunch? If a messenger from God told you that in a little over a month you would die, would food be on your mind? Do you see? At one level, fasting is a rather natural reaction to bad news. You will notice that in virtually all of these Old Testament usages, fasting comes on the heels of disaster or news that a disaster is coming. We saw the same thing last week in Joel, when God commanded His prophet to call a fast, because the day of the Lord was approaching.

Let me point out one more reference to fasting in the Old Testament. Though the word “fast” or “fasting” is not found in Lev. 16, most Bible students believe that is what the Lord intends His people to understand. This chapter tells the people what they are supposed to do on the Day of Atonement. That was the one day of the year when the one person (the high priest) could enter the Holy of Holies, where the ark of the covenant was located. You will remember that God through Moses had told His people to build the tabernacle, that He might dwell among them there (Ex. 25:8). Though no building could contain God, He chose to set His presence in the tabernacle in a special way. And where in the tabernacle was His presence specifically located? In the Holy of Holies, above the mercy seat (atonement cover), which was the lid to the ark of the covenant. No one could enter that room, because if he did, he would die immediately, for no sinful man can stand in the presence of holy God. But once a year, on the Day of Atonement, God told the high priest to come into that room. But even then, there was something he must do. What was that? He had to bring the blood of a sacrifice to make atonement for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He did this once each year, specifically on the Day of Atonement.

With that background in mind, let’s now read Lev. 16:29-31…

And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: 30. 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.

Notice that the people were commanded to “afflict their souls.” (This same command is repeated in Lev. 23:27,32; Num. 29:7). My NKJV has an alternate reading: “humble yourselves” (NASV -- humble your souls; NIV -- deny yourselves). But exactly how were they supposed to afflict themselves, humble themselves, deny themselves? Most believe that this is a reference to fasting, and there are some good reasons for that conclusion.

Last week we read from Is. 58, a passage where God rebukes His people because they were fasting with the wrong attitudes and motives. Notice the question they ask in Is. 58:3, "Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours." Notice here that their fasting and the affliction of the soul are perfectly parallel. As the Lord taking no knowledge (in the second clause) is another way of saying the He does not see (first clause), so afflicting the soul (second clause) is another way of saying they fasted (first clause). Add to that the words of David in Ps. 35:13, "But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom." The word translated “humbled” is the same word that is translated “afflicted” in Lev. 16. David afflicted his soul with fasting. In Numbers 30 we have instructions for the husband and wife concerning taking vows (making promises). Listen to Num. 30:13, "Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void." It is difficult to understand what such a definite afflicting of the soul should be, if it was not fasting. And remember what we read in Ezra 8:21, "Then I proclaimed a fast 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." Notice again the connection between this affliction of self and fasting.[If you want to explore one more angle, take a look at Prov. 23:1-2, "When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2. And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite." That word translated “appetite” is the word that is normally translated “soul.”]

You will notice on your handout from last week that the word “fast” is not used in the law, in the first five books of the Old Testament. It seems best to understand this phrase “afflicting the soul” as the law’s way of designating fasting. If so, Lev. 16 is the only place in the Old Testament where fasting is commanded on a regular basis for the people of God. The Lord told them to fast on this one day of the year. On this one occasion, fasting was not the result of some catastrophe or sorrow. On the other hand, it was connected with mourning, repentance, humility, and prayer, for it was a graphic reminder of their sins against God.

So we see that although all God’s people were commanded to fast on a regular basis only once a year on the Day of Atonement, fasting was a regular part of life.

II. Fasting Beyond Biblical Times

Now let’s fast forward a few hundred years. We have a Christian writing called “The Didache.” It is dated late in the first century or early in the second. It’s first line reads, “Teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles by the Twelve Apostles.” It contains some of the core teachings of the early church. Fasting is mentioned three times in the Didache. Christians were expected to fast in connection with praying for their enemies and in preparation for baptism. The third reference teaches them not to fast on Tuesdays and Thursdays like the Jews, but to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. (Wikipedia)

Augustine, who lived from 354 to 430, wrote these words…

If I be asked what is my own opinion in this matter, I answer, after carefully pondering the question, that in the Gospels and Epistles, and the entire collection of books for our instruction called the New Testament, I see that fasting is enjoined [commanded]. But I do not discover any rule definitely laid down by the Lord or by the apostles as to days on which we ought or ought not to fast. (Quoted by John Piper in A Hunger for God, pp. 184-185)

Martin Luther preached a sermon in 1524 in which he said, “Of fasting I say this: it is right to fast frequently in order to subdue and control the body, for when the stomach is full, the body does not serve for preaching for praying, for studying, or for doing anything else that is good. Under such circumstances God’s Word cannot remain. But one should not fast with a view to meriting something by it as by a good work” (Quoted by Piper, p. 185-186).

Among other things, John Calvin wrote, “Fasting is a subordinate aid, which is pleasing to God no farther than as it aids the earnestness and fervency of prayer.” This comes from the pen of William Law, who lived from 1668 to 1761…

If religion requires us sometimes to fast and deny our natural appetites, it is to lessen that struggle and war that is in our nature; it is to render our bodies fitter instruments of purity, and more obedient to the good motions of divine grace; it is to dry up the springs of our passions that war against the soul, to cool the flame of our blood, and render the mind more capable of divine meditations. So that although these abstinences give some pain to the body, yet they so lessen the power of bodily appetites and passions, and so increase our taste of spiritual joys, that even these severities of religion, when practiced with discretion, add much to the comfortable enjoyment of our lives. (Quoted by Piper, P. 189)

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) wrote…

The state of the times extremely requires a fullness of the divine Spirit in ministers, and we ought to give ourselves no rest till we have obtained it. And in order to [do] this, I should think ministers, above all persons, ought to be much in secret prayer and fasting, and also much in praying and fasting one with another. It seems to me it would be becoming the circumstances of the present day, if ministers in a neighborhood would often meet together and spend days in fasting and fervent prayer among themselves, earnestly seeking for those extraordinary supplies of divine grace from heaven, that we need at this day. (Quoted from Piper, p. 190)

John Wesley (1703-1791), the founder of Methodism, was a great promoter of fasting, to the point that he required prospective ministers to fast twice a week. He bluntly stated, “The man who never fasts is no more in the way to heaven than the man who never prays” (Piper, p. 191). We could go on and on with other great men of God who fasted and called for fasting, men like John Knox, Matthew Henry, Andrew Murray, Martin Lloyd-Jones, and many others. The point is this: Down through the centuries fasting has been a part of the lives of those who followed Jesus. History tells us that plainly.

That brings us back to the question -- then why so little fasting in our day? Why is it that fasting is rarely talked about and practiced even less? No doubt, some of you have never fasted and have never considered fasting? In light of the fact that fasting has been such a vital part of the lives of Christians through the centuries, how can that be? Do we have any answers? Is it because Christianity is so vibrant and pure in our day that there is little need for fasting? While the “state of the times” in the 18^th century caused Jonathan Edwards to call on Christian leaders to fast and pray, can we say that the state of the times in our day is so much better that there is not such a need? Or perhaps it is because all those great men of God through the centuries did not have as good an understanding of the scriptures, as we do? Is it because they didn’t grasp the freedom that we have in Christ? What is it that sets Christians of our day apart from those of earlier centuries when it comes to the practice of fasting?

Or let’s look at it from another angle. We saw that in the Old Testament fasting was associated with mourning, prayer, humility, and repentance. It was an outward expression of mourning, repentance, and humility. It was viewed as an aid in prayer. Can we say that because we have such joy in Christ that mourning has no place in our lives? But what about James 4:9, "Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness"? Have we come so far that we no longer need to repent? Are we so powerful in prayer that we don’t need the aid of fasting?

How can we escape the conclusion that the state of Christianity in this country is far worse than a hundred years ago or two hundred years ago? Prayer does not have the place among Christians that it did in the past. The impression is often given that there is no need for the Christian to weep. Has there ever been a greater need for repentance than today? Out of our great need, why do we not see prayer and fasting as vital in the Lord’s church?

Lord willing, next week we are going to try to answer those questions. In order to do so, we will turn to the New Testament teaching on fasting. Today we have explored a number of passages from the Old Testament, but next week we must come to the New. There is still an opinion among many that while fasting was important for the Old Testament saints, it has no place in the life of the Christian. We need to see especially what our Lord Jesus says about fasting.

I want to encourage you to take that handout you have and go over those New Testament passages. Pray that God will give us insight, that He will speak to us as His people.

Conclusion

When we come to the New Testament, we read of Jesus fasting only once, though He may have fasted many other times. We simply don’t know. However, the one time was quite a fast, as Jesus didn’t eat for 40 days. Last week I asked you this question, “What was the first thing Jesus said after that fast?” “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). This morning I want to leave us with a few thoughts concerning Jesus’ 40-day fast.

Please turn to Matthew 4. At the end of chapter 3, we see that Jesus was baptized. Now let’s read Matt. 4:1, "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." So why did the Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness (desert)? In order that He might be tempted by the devil. This was a part of God’s plan. Then we read in verse 2, “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.” If the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, surely it was the same Spirit who led Him to fast for 40 days. Can we see that this must have been an intense time of prayer and fasting for Jesus? Did He know specifically that the devil was going to come and tempt Him after the 40 days? We are not told directly, but surely Jesus knew that He was the primary target of Satan. He has just been baptized and is beginning His ministry. Surely He knows that as He begins to publicly preach and teach and heal and do miracles, the devil is going to come after Him. The preparation for those temptations was forty days of intense prayer and fasting.

Listen to me. I am glad that Jesus prepared Himself through prayer and fasting for those temptations. What was it that the devil tempted Him to do? Yes, Satan tempted Jesus to turn the stones into bread, and then to jump from the top of the temple, and then to bow down and worship him. But here is the bottom line -- the devil was tempting Jesus to abandon submission to His Father and bypass the cross. Since He had the power to turn the stones into bread, why shouldn’t He do it. There was nothing sinful about eating bread. But Jesus didn’t take His orders from Satan, but lived by every word of His Father. Why shouldn’t Jesus jump off the temple without hurting Himself, thus proving that He was the Son of God? Didn’t He want the world to know that He was Lord and Messiah? But Jesus would not rely upon His power to do flashy and impressive miracles. Rather, He would rely upon His Father to do what no man could do, to take upon Himself the sins of the world. And why shouldn’t Jesus bow down to Satan so that He could receive all the kingdoms of the world? Wasn’t that the ultimate goal, that He be Lord of all? But Jesus refused to take the shortcut that would bypass the cross. Yes, He would be Lord of all, but only after He had become sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God.

It was this experience that set the tone for the ministry of Jesus. As He would say later, “My will is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). And it was the Father’s will that He lay down His life. Yes, “it pleased the Lord to bruise Him, to put Him to grief” (Is. 53:10). Because Jesus went to that cross and rose again victorious over death, you can have life. When you think that He took upon Himself the wrath of God to spare you that wrath, are you humbled and crushed? If not, you need to fall down before Him and pray that you would be. Because until you are broken before the Savior who satisfied the justice of God, you are under His wrath and will have to pay with your life for all eternity.

“But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14), but the cross did not sneak up on Jesus. The battle of Gethsemane began long before with His baptism and the temptation experience. God chose to prepare Him at the start through forty days of prayer and fasting. That might say something to us about our need for times of intense prayer and fasting as well.

Introduction to Fasting -- 1/16/2011

January 16, 2010

AN INTRODUCTION TO FASTING

Joel 1-3

From the bulletin insert, you might have gathered that we are going to be talking about fasting. While it is probably not necessary to define fasting, let me just remind us that it is going without food for a time for a spiritual purpose. While there are those who fast for other reasons, that definition will fit our purposes.

The term “fast” in all its forms is found 47 times in the Old Testament and 32 times in the New Testament. That fact alone demands that we have some understanding. Compare that to the word “tithe,” which is used 25 times in the Old Testament and 7 times in the New. Is it more common to hear about tithing or fasting?

Most all of us know something of what Jesus says about fasting in Matthew 6. We will look at it later, but let me remind you for now that Jesus makes it clear that the one who fasts does it to be seen of the Lord, not of men. To call attention to yourself because you are fasting reveals impure motives. Because of that, when I have fasted, I have never made a big deal of it. I have become increasingly aware that while I have not done this intentionally, I have robbed God’s people of what His Word teaches about fasting. We have run across it from time to time in particular passages that we have been studying, but sometimes it is good to bring together what the scripture teaches on a specific subject. Please forgive me for my shortsightedness.

For at least three weeks, and probably more, we are going to take a look at what the Bible says about fasting. Of course, we can’t do that honestly with a view to simply increasing our knowledge. As one man put it, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.” Ultimately, our question must be this: “What does the Lord have to say to me, and to us as His people, about fasting?”

I thought I was going to call us to fast, but then it was as if the Lord said, “Not so fast.” Yes, I’m laughing with you, but after the laughter has died down, there is a dead seriousness that lingers. What if we all fasted, and the Lord hated our fasting? Do you mean to say that the Lord could hate fasting? Absolutely. He could hate fasting in the same way that He hates prayer. God hates prayer? Prov. 28:9, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." An abomination is something that is greatly hated, loathed. Do we think the Lord loved the prayers of the Pharisee? Never. Their prayers were an abomination, as we clearly see in Jesus’ parable about the Pharisee and the publican (see Luke 18:9-14).

But what about fasting? The first reference to fasting in the New Testament is in Matt. 4:2, where we read that Jesus fasted for forty days, but the second is very different. It is found in Matt. 6, where Jesus warns us not to fast like the hypocrites did. Please turn to Matthew 6. In verses 1-4, Jesus tells us how not to do our charitable deeds. Don’t give in order to impress men. Then in verses 5-15 Jesus deals with prayer. This time He states specifically that we are not to be like the hypocrites, whose desire is to receive the praise of men. While these hypocrites are not identified here, the rest of the gospel accounts make it clear that Jesus is referring to the religious leaders, especially the scribes and Pharisees. Now let’s come to what He has to say about fasting. Read Matt. 6:16-18…

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. 17. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 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.

Earlier I made reference to Jesus’ little parable about the Pharisee and the publican. Let’s read it now in Luke 18:9-14…

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The Pharisees, among other things, fasted regularly. Yes, they fasted twice a week without fail. Wow! They were certainly disciplined, were they not? Surely they had great zeal. Nevertheless, it was not the Pharisee who went home justified before God. Rather, it was the tax collector. Jesus was not at all impressed by the fasting of the Pharisees. Though the Pharisees were experts in the law and could quote long passages from God’s Word, they did not take heed to what God had told them in Isaiah 58. We will come to this passage later on, but let’s take a moment to introduce it now. Read Isaiah 58:1-5…

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. 3. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast 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 as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5. Is it such a fast 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, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

These Israelites were seeking the Lord, they delighted to know His ways, they appeared to be righteous people, they did not forsake God’s laws, they asked the Lord for justice, and they delighted in coming to God. And they emphasized their seriousness about seeking God by fasting regularly. What could be wrong with that? God found plenty wrong with it, because He tells Isaiah, “Cry aloud, do not spare them, lift up your voice like a trumpet and show my people there sins.” In spite of all these things, God saw only their sins. In the words of Prov. 28:9, their prayers, their seeking, and their fasting were an abomination to God.

Are you beginning to see why I got the message, “Not so fast”? It is not a light thing to do something that the Lord may hate. Add to that danger the fact that sin tends to come with its own set of blinders. We might be tempted to say about the people in Isaiah’s day, “They knew that God was not pleased with their fasting and other outward disciplines.” How do we know that? I remind you that the language the Lord employed through Isaiah is very strong. He didn’t say, “They seem to seek my daily and seem to delight to know my ways.” No, it is, “They seek my daily and delight to know my ways.” I believe He said it that way because their observances were so convincing, so convincing that they fooled even themselves. That’s the way it is with the Pharisees. I can’t find any evidence that they were well aware of their hypocrisy. Remember that Paul himself was a Pharisee. We never find him going back and saying, “I knew that the things I was doing were wrong, but I just wouldn’t admit it.” No, when he said that he was “more exceedingly zealous of the tradition of his fathers” (Gal. 1:13-14) than many of his fellow-Jews, that’s exactly what he meant. His heart was in what he was doing. When Paul tells us that he was a Pharisee, he says nothing that would set him apart from the rest of the Pharisees and their religious practices. Here’s the point. We could undertake fasting and think that we are doing the will of God, when in fact, God could hate what we are doing.

Now with that sparkling introduction to fasting, let me ask you some questions. Are you eager to engage in fasting? Are you ready to fast tomorrow? What about Tuesday? Or do you want to try twice a week, like the Pharisees did? Before you answer those questions, let me share some scriptures with you…

I Cor. 8:8…Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

Col. 3:20-23…If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— ²¹ "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" ²²( referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? ²³These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

I Tim. 4:1-5… ¹Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ²through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,³ who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. ⁴For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Did that help any? Are you ready to begin fasting?

It is about now that some of you are wondering, “Ron, what on earth are you trying to do?” It isn’t my intention to be cute or crafty. On the other hand, I want to give great emphasis to the danger of fasting. Most of you figure that, since I am speaking about fasting, I must have something to say about it other than the dangers. If 90% of us were fasting on a regular basis, it would make sense to preach a sermon on the dangers of fasting. However, in our case, it’s more like giving a swimming lecture to dolphins. Why do we need to hear about the dangers of fasting?

Let me try to explain. As you have guessed, we are going to tackle what the Bible says about fasting. Enough of you were here a few months ago when we took a brief look at this in an evening service that you know there is a biblical case for fasting. But before I can talk to you about the need and the value of fasting, I must point out these dangers. Nor can I divorce my personal experience from the need to talk about these dangers. By God’s grace, we do learn from our mistakes. For more than 25 years I have fasted at times, though not regularly during all of those years. Now I must confess that God has been convicting me about fasting in recent months. The conviction began with a sense of needing to fast. More recently, the Lord has been showing me how little I really understand about fasting. I have come to realize that many times I have fasted in a way that doesn’t please the Lord. Too many times I have been guilty of what I might call “mechanical fasting.” I didn’t eat, but I can’t say that I was truly hungry for God. Perhaps I was even guilty of pride. Though I never did it to impress others, did I think that somehow I was earning God’s favor? I praise God for the truth of Ps. 130:3-4, "If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4. But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."

I remind you that we have an enemy. He would like us to look at the abuses and misunderstanding of fasting and say, “I’m not going to mess with that. I don’t fast, and I’m doing just fine.” I remind you that fasting isn’t abused nearly as much as prayer, and yet we still believe it is vitally important to pray.

Now I want us to do two things. First, I want to leave you with a question to chew on, as well as a list of the scriptures that talk about fasting. You will find that list on the little stands by the doors, as you go out. Don’t just get one and take it home, but make the time to go over those scriptures. After reading those scriptures, some of you will ask a question something like this: “Certainly people in biblical times fasted, but is this something for today? Wasn’t fasting an Old Testament practice, similar to refraining from certain kinds of meat?” That is a very good question, and one of the main questions that must be answered. In other words, “Is fasting Christian? Or, is it a man-made rule that undermines the gospel of grace?” These questions must be answered by the Word of God. We could give our opinions, but what our opinions compared to the Spirit-inspired Word of our God?

The second thing I want to do is this: I want to introduce our study of fasting by reading a book of the Bible. The book is Joel, one of what we call “the minor prophets.” Don’t panic; it only has three chapters. Fasting is mentioned twice by Joel, but it is plays a vital part in the message of the book. Listen, as I read from the NKJV the book of Joel…

Conclusion

Let me mention one other thing. After Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert, what was the very first thing He said? “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). How we need to hear every word from God. Many of us need to hear His words about fasting. Some of you may need to hear the simple word of the gospel. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). In the days just ahead, let’s hear what our Lord has to say.

Prayer

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Fasting… (exhaustive -- all OT and NT occurrences of all forms)

Judg 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."

1 Sam 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. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh."

1 Sam 31:13 "And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days."

2 Sam 1:12 "And they mourned, and wept, and fasted 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."

2 Sam 12:16 "David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth."

2 Sam 12:21-23 "Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast 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 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? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

1 Ki 21:9 "And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:"

1 Ki 21:12 "They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people."

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

1 Chr 10:12 "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 seven days."

2 Chr 20:3 "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."

Ezra 8:21 "Then I proclaimed a fast 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."

Ezra 8:23 "So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us."

Neh 1:4 "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,"

Neh 9:1 "Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them."

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

Est 4:16 "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."

Est 9:31 "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 and their cry."

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

Ps. 69:10 "When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach."

Ps. 109:24 "My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness."

Is. 58:3-6 "Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast 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 as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5. Is it such a fast 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, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6. Is not this the fast 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?"

Jer 14:12 "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."

Jer 36:6 "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 day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities."

Jer 36:9 "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 before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem."

Dan 6:18 "Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him."

Dan 9:3 "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:"

Joel 1:14 "Sanctify ye a fast, 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 "Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:"

Joel 2:15 "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:"

Jonah 3:5 "So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them."

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

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

Matt 4:2 "And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered."

Matt 6:16-18 "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. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 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."

Matt 9:14-15 "Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 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."

Mark 2:18-20 "And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? 19. 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. 20. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days."

Luke 5:33-35 "And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? 34. And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days."

Matt 15:32 "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way."

Mark 8:3 "And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far."

Matt 17:21 "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

Mark 9:29 "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

Luke 2:37 "And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."

Luke 18:12 "I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess."

Acts 10:30 "And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,"

Acts 13:2-3 "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."

Acts 14:23 "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."

Acts 27:9 "Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,"

Acts 27:33 "And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing."

1 Cor 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."

2 Cor 6:5 "In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;"

2 Cor 11:27 "In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness."

Questions to ask, as you go through the scriptures before you…

1. What other things are often associated with fasting?

2. What are some of the purposes of fasting in the Bible? In other words, why did these various people fast?

3. Did God ever command fasting?

4. Is there a difference between fasting in the Old Testament and fasting in the New Testament?

5. Why is it that some examples of fasting were not pleasing to God?