...It's Good For The Soul
TL;DR (Because I will admit, it is long.)
Spiritual fasting, planned out with God, reveals Truth and strengthens your relationship with your Heavenly Father.
As I was writing “Christians, I Have A Challenge For Us”, and going through the Word and re-reading the verses, reading the annotations, and copying them, I realized something about fasting (for spiritual purposes) even though the verse that triggered it, had nothing to do with fasting.
(Side note: I have been curious about fasting the last couple of weeks. You know, as a side note to this side note, isn’t it amazing that when you become curious about the Truth within the Word, eventually, even if you have not yet done research, you get an apophenia?!)
According to the “Lexham Bible Dictionary”, ‘fasting’ is “a ritual of abstaining from food and/or drink for a predetermined period; practiced in the Bible primarily as a means of mourning. Fasting frequently occurs in the Old Testament in response to suffering or disaster, in conjunction with other mourning rituals.”
But the in the “Lexham Bible Dictionary” for ‘fast’, it states, “The Hebrew text does not use the word for fast (צוֹם, tsom), but instead uses עָנָה (anah), which is often translated as ‘deny yourself’ (NRSV). This more general reference may imply that other forms of self-denial were also intended, such as abstinence from contact with the opposite sex, from anointing with oil or bathing, or from wearing sandals.”
I personally like how Pastor John Hammonds put it in his sermon, ‘Christians and Fasting’, “a fast is the intentional abstinence from something for the purpose of pursuing closeness with God.”
I typically don’t eat breakfast and supplement with water (after the morning Dr Pepper), so in a sense, I am fasting until lunch,… right? HAHA, the point is really about the water part. When our kids are “hungry”, but it is not time for a meal, for example, we typically tell them to have some water. Because from experience, when we are “hungry”, but don’t want to eat, we drink water. Water fills us up. So, when we fast, we can still drink water to help us to keep going, but what we are also doing is that our spirit, is commanding our body (our flesh) to obey, to endure, and drink water instead.
Well, what did Jesus say to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in John 4:10? He provides living water! So, as we are fasting and working on our relationship, we are getting closer to Him, closer to the living water that sustains our spirit.
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
John 4:10, 13-14
‘Jesus and the Woman of Samaria’
ESV Verse
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Annotations
‘living water’, A Semitic (Hebrew, Arabic, & Aramaic languages) idiom for “spring water” or “fresh water”, though Jesus uses it as a metaphor for eternal life.
‘eternal life’, In him was life The Word is the source of life, both physical through the creation of all things.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
Genesis 26:19; Leviticus 14:6; John 1:4
So, on this Sabbath Saturday, I decided that I was also going to fast lunch, too (a baby step), and not eat until family fellowship at dinner time after church. During this fasting, unironically, I am going to research fasting, and I want to share what I have discovered that day and the days after. In Matthew 6:18, Jesus instructs us to keep fasting a secret and not to boast, but since the purpose of this fast is to share what I learn, it is not a secret this once.
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Matthew 6:16-18,
‘The Sermon on the Mount’ & ‘Fasting’
ESV Verse
And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Annotations
‘do not look gloomy like the hypocrites’, Fasting involves abstaining from food for the purpose of religious reflection and devotion. In order to be noticed by others, hypocrites who were fasting would display a disheveled appearance.
‘anoint your head’, Refers to basic hygiene practices of the time. In contrast to a disheveled disposition, Jesus instructs His disciples to maintain their personal appearance so that no one but the Father will know of their fasting.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
Genesis 26:19; Leviticus 14:6; John 1:4
In this part of the Sermon, Jesus was informing us of our misunderstandings of interpretation of the Law. Publicly showing your faith is great and the Lord calls upon us to be a light unto the world; however, that is with God as the focus, when you are doing it do boast yourself and how “religious” or righteous you, as a person, are, that is what is unacceptable and honestly, quite a balancing act.
‘Disfiguring their faces’, meaning having that pouty look or frowning because of your hunger. In other words, drawing attention to it when it is an intimate moment with you and your Heavenly Father.
‘secret’, Do not boast that you are fasting, but it may become necessary to gently inform in a social setting. For example, if you are fasting from food, but your friend invites you to lunch, you would have to decline. However, since you are friends, you would inform him/her of the reason for declining. In my case, I informed my wife for a number of different reasons.
- When you get married, the 2 became 1.
- To let her know she would need to plan lunch and why.
- I didn’t know how I was going to react, so she needed to be aware of possible mood swings. (Bonus, I didn’t have any.
- Why I was locked in my office all day.
- Last but not least and taking #1 further; the 3 became 1 because Jesus is a part of the marriage covenant.
Another reason for keeping it a secret is because fasting is different for everyone. Later, there will be verse examples.
In the New Testament, there is not a specific command to fast like there specifically is in the Old Testament; therefore, some Christians may feel more inclined to not fast. But, look at the word choice of ‘when’, not ‘if’, in Matthew 6:16. So, my assumption is that Jesus was assuming we would continue to fast as we had been previously doing. In fact, in Matthew 4:2 Jesus fasts Himself and in Mark 2:20 it states to resume fasting after Jesus ascended.
But to even expand on this example even more. A lot Christians believe that just because something was commanded or done as a custom/tradition in the Old Testament, but it was not repeated in the New Testament, that we don’t have to follow it anymore or at a minimum, that it is not in our best interest any more. I was in that category of ignorance and defiance, but now I am on a journey to re-read and strive to truly understand the Bible as a whole.
I will not be able to uphold every single aspect of the Law, or understand if it applies today, but that really isn’t the point, is it? Humans, in this form, will never, ever be able to uphold every Law. That is why God came to earth as Jesus to uphold the Law as intended (the ‘spirt of the law’), help us with our misunderstanding of the Law, and offer the perfect blood sacrifice that could take God’s wrath against our sins for all of us. As Christians, we should still strive to uphold the Law and repent of our sins daily, directly to Jesus who is our mediator for God. We do not have to repent through a mediator that is man or an animal blood sacrifice.
So, I have mentioned ‘Law’ a lot, let’s go to the Old Testament’s “Pentateuch” (“Torah” or “Law”) (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy), the only time fasting is mentioned as mandatory is for the ‘Day of Atonement’ which falls on the 10th day of the 7th month (Israel fasted, cleansed the sanctuary of impurity, and asked for forgiveness of their sins through blood rituals and sending a goat into the wilderness). It is stated in Leviticus 23:32 (see below my signature for the verse and annotations).
Outside of this, the expectation of voluntary spiritual fasting with prayer is typically done alongside with other practices of mourning, lamentation (vocalized poetry about mourning), penitence (practice of asking another for forgiveness and ceasing some sinful behavior), or response to suffering/disaster. The result? Getting closer to God, understanding His will, and then, executing His will. (There are several examples in scripture, see below my signature for the verses and annotations.)
Today, a lot of times, when people (even non-Christians) think of fasting from a religious stand-point is Lent leading up to Easter. This is a timed for focused prayer, worship, repentance, and drawing closer to God. It draws from Jesus’ complete sustenance (not sure on the water part though) fasting for 40 days & nights in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-2 prior to his ministry starting. (See below my signature for the verse and annotations.)
Today, Christians typically give up something from their diet (like meat, sugar, etc.) or a habit (like social media, drinking alcohol, etc.) when fasting. There are Biblical examples of fasting from something other than food. (See below my signature for the verses and annotations.) With these examples outside of abstaining from sustenance, one could assume that one could fast from anything with the end goal of the fast is to get closer to God.
For example, if you are fasting from social media, the time you spent on social media should be replaced with spending more time with God (as long as that is what was agreed upon) and working on your relationship.
But if you are fasting food, the purpose is to spend that entire time with God (as long as that is what was agreed upon), not just the meal time. This can look a number of different ways. For example, I was in my office from the time I woke up until getting ready for church with nothing but water while studying this topic, which includes reading in the Word, listening to a sermon, going through other Logos resources, and writing this draft blog entry. I would take breaks and listen to praise & worship music while building a Cathedral in my Minecraft world. I have a long way to go on that project, but it is fun.
Whatever it is that you decide to fast from, you have to ask yourself, “How will fasting from this bring me closer to God and His will?” If it doesn’t, it may not be spiritual fasting, it may be a lifestyle change. However, if you are quitting a habit (a lifestyle change) and using fasting to help, the purpose of this is to be reliant on God to break you of the habit because your own strength can’t accomplish it. Therefore, in this situation your relationship with Him gets stronger because of your surrender.
With spiritual fasting, you are not just abstaining from something in your life, but you are also adding more God into your life. So, be in prayer and develop a plan with God that includes:
- what you are fasting from,
- why you are fasting from it,
- what you are going to do in lieu of the fast (if it is to read the Bible, decide on the topic or book),
- how long the fast be, and
- what the end goal is, e.g., the lesson.
If you do not have a plan that aligns with God’s will, the chances of a successful fast are lower than having a plan that aligns. So, when you do fast, the first part might be planning it out and even possibly executing it at a later date. Again, it is between you and God, it is personal, and He has a plan, so ask Him.
God bless and thank you for your time,
Saturday, February, 10, 2024
Volume 15 Issue 06 (68)
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Matthew 4:1-2,
‘The Temptation of Jesus’
ESV Verse
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Annotations
‘was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness’, God led His people through the desert for 40 years due to their unfaithfulness. The Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days so that His fidelity might be set in contrast to the nation’s infidelity.
‘by the Spirit’, Matthew emphasizes that the Spirit leads Jesus; the devil is allowed to test Him but does not lead Him.
‘after fasting forty days and forty nights’, Fasting during this time period meant eating nothing at all. The text does not seem to imply that Jesus was sustained supernaturally during His fast; instead, it emphasizes that He experienced hunger. Jesus’ 40-day fast recalls Moses’ 40 days on the mountain, the Israelites’ 40 years in the desert, and Elijah’s 40 days at Mount Horeb.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
Exodus 24:18; Numbers 14:33–34; 1 Kings 19:1–8
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Mark 2:18–22,
‘A Question About Fasting’
ESV Verse
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”
Annotations
In this section, Jesus discusses fasting with a group of people—explaining why His disciples do not fast when others do. Fasting was a key element of Judaism in the first-century AD, even though only one day of fasting was required by the law. Jesus in no way condemns fasting; instead, He explains why it was not necessary while He was bodily present with His disciples.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
Leviticus 16:29–30; Acts 13:2
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Leviticus 23:32,
‘The Day of Atonement’
ESV Verse
“It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”
Annotations
‘you shall afflict yourselves’, Refers to fasting.
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Judges 20:26,
‘Israel’s War with the Tribe of Benjamin’
ESV Verse
Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
2 Samuel 12:16-17,
‘David’s Child Dies’
ESV Verse
David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
Annotations
The third judgment YHWH notes will come against David happens first (see v. 14).
‘lay all night on the ground’, A shameful act meant to communicate the depth of his sorrow and repentance.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
2 Samuel 12:14
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
2 Samuel 12:21-23,
‘David’s Child Dies’
ESV Verse
Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Annotations
‘What is this thing’, David’s servants consider his response to the situation to be incongruous. His actions before the child’s death resemble the mourning ritual following a death. His actions after the child’s death suggest that the period of mourning is over, when it should have just begun.
‘I fasted and wept’, David grieved over his sin and the punishment against his child. He demonstrated his remorse and repentance to YHWH in the hope that He might spare the child.
‘bring him back’, Since David could not bring the child back from the dead, he saw no point in continuing to mourn for him.
‘I shall go to him’, Reflects David’s conviction that he will be reunited with his departed child after his own death. This reality appears to comfort David in v. 20. He is therefore able to console his wife in v. 24.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
2 Samuel 12:20; 2 Samuel 12:24
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
1 Kings 19:8,
‘Elijah Flees Jezebel’
ESV Verse
And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Ezra 8:21–23,
‘Fasting and Prayer for Protection’
ESV Verse
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So, we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
Annotations
‘I proclaimed a fast there’, Fasting commonly accompanies a time of great anxiety.
‘against the enemy’, In ancient times, the roads between Babylon and Judah were teeming with gangs of bandits.
‘implored our God’, The combination of fasting with prayer is common in Scripture.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
Nehemiah 1:4; Daniel 9:3; Luke 2:37; 5:33; Acts 13:3; Acts 14:23
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Nehemiah 9:1,
‘The People of Israel Confess Their Sin’
ESV Verse
Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads.
Annotations
‘on the twenty-fourth day of this month’, This appears to be a unique event. There was no prescribed holiday on the 24th day of the seventh month.
‘sackcloth’, Clothes typically worn as a sign of mourning.
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Esther 4:15–17,
‘Esther Agrees to Help the Jews’
ESV Verse
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
Annotations
‘hold a fast on my behalf’, Although Esther earlier deferred to Mordecai, she now bravely responds with an act of faith. A call to assemble and fast accompanies a similar cry for divine relief in Joel 2:12–16. Although God is not mentioned here, the implication is that the fasting is an observance of a time of intense prayer for the salvation of the Jewish people. Esther is likely requesting prayer from the people for her, with the knowledge that their salvation will now depend on the king’s response to her. The focus on fasting contrasts with the theme of feasting.
‘for three days, night or day’, If these three days are consecutive to the day mentioned in 3:12, the Jews in Susa would have fasted during the Passover and for two days following it. But more time certainly could have passed since then (vv. 3–4). If these three days are consecutive to the day mentioned in 3:12, this would be religiously significant. The Jewish people would be requesting that YHWH cause the judgment of an evil empire to pass over them on the day celebrating the rescue of the Jewish people from Egypt in Exodus.
‘if I perish, I perish’, A statement of courageous resolve, not an expression of resignation to a foregone conclusion. Esther’s response seems to indicate that she agrees with Mordecai’s earlier implication—her appointment to queen was a divine action.
‘as Esther had ordered him’, From this point forward, Esther takes the lead in the effort to deliver her people. Prior to this Mordecai has been instructing Esther; this represents a role reversal.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
Joel 2:12–16; Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:23; Nehemiah 1:4; Jonah 3:5; Esther 3:3-4; Esther 3:12; Exodus 12; Genesis 43:14; Esther 2:10
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Isaiah 58:3–6,
‘True and False Fasting’
ESV Verse
‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.
Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
Annotations
‘in the day of your fast’, While fasting was an appropriate act of worship, their motives for fasting were self-serving. They claimed to have humbled themselves, but their actions are motivated by pride.
‘and oppress all your workers’, Their outward religious observances were meaningless if they did not experience the change of heart that would inspire them to treat others justly.
‘to undo the straps of the yoke’, Fasting and following religious rituals will not manipulate God into showing favor. He is more concerned with the motivation of the heart than the outward act. Oppressing the poor and weak of society, and burdening them with slavery, is the opposite of what they should be doing. God’s desire for social justice is a familiar theme in the prophets, especially the book of Amos.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
Isaiah 1:11–17
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Jeremiah 36:6,
‘Jehoiakim Burns Jeremiah’s Scroll’
ESV Verse
so you are to go, and on a day of fasting in the hearing of all the people in the LORD’s house you shall read the words of the LORD from the scroll that you have written at my dictation. You shall read them also in the hearing of all the men of Judah who come out of their cities.
Annotations
‘a day of fasting’, Baruch must read the scroll on a holiday. Since everyone is required to gather in Jerusalem in the temple on the day of fasting, a substantial audience will be present to hear the scroll’s contents.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
Jeremiah 36:10
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Daniel 10:1-3,
‘Daniel’s Terrifying Vision of a Man’
ESV Verse
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.
Annotations
‘was mourning’, Daniel mourns in preparation for receiving a vision. For an extrabiblical example of this behavior.
‘meat or wine’, The vegetarian diet initiated in Daniel 1:8–16 apparently lasted only for a time. Daniel later ate meat and wine.
‘did I anoint myself at all’, A typical indication of mourning.
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Zechariah 8:19,
‘The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion’
ESV Verse
“Thus says 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 seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore, love truth and peace.”
Annotations
‘The fast of the fourth’, Commemorates Nebuchadnezzar’s breach of Jerusalem’s walls (586 BC). The fourth month, Tammuz, corresponds with June and July.
‘fast of the fifth’, The Jews had imposed a religious observance commemorating Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC; this involved fasting
‘fast of the seventh’, Tishri—late September and early October. This observance may have commemorated the murder of Gedaliah, the governor Nebuchadnezzar placed over Judah. This event precipitated the remnant’s flight to Egypt.
‘the fast of the tenth’, Commemorates the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem (588 BC). The 10th month, Tebet, corresponds with December and January.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
Jeremiah 39:2; 2 Kings 25:1; 2 Kings 25:8–9; 2 Kings 25:22–25; 2 Kings 25:26
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
Exodus 19:15,
‘Israel at Mount Sinai’
ESV Verse
And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”
Annotations
‘do not go near a woman’, Sexual abstinence in the Old Testament is normally associated with ritual cleanness. Like blood, seminal fluids represented life. Loss of blood (e.g., menstruation) or semen was therefore interpreted as a depletion of life force. Contact with such fluid represented participation with this process of depletion. There was nothing immoral in such contact, but for the purpose of being in the presence of the life-giver (God), such contact was prohibited.
Verses Cross-
Referenced
Lev 15:18; 1 Sam 21:4; Lev 12:2, 5
Book, Chapter,
Verse, Title
1 Corinthians 7:5,
‘Principles for Marriage’
ESV Verse
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Annotations
‘Do not deprive one another’, Paul advises married Corinthian believers not to deprive each other of sexual relations; doing so could lead them into temptation.
Works Cited
- Holy Bible, New King James Version | Thomas Nelson, 1982.
- NKJV Study Bible 3rd edition, New King James Version | Thomas Nelson, 2018.
- Logos Bible Study.
- The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Seal, D., & Whitcomb, K. A. (2016). Fasting. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, L. Wentz, E. Ritzema, & W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Lexham Press.
- Faithlife Study Bible. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Jn 4:10). Lexham Press.
- Jesse Hammonds. First Baptist Church Three Rivers. “Christians and Fasting”. November 2023.
