There are
many different reasons to fast and many examples in the Bible about
fasting. Even within the examples we see in the Bible, there were
variations on what the fast entailed. I trust that these examples will
give you further instruction on how to conduct a fast and why you might
want to consider fasting.
Moses Fasted Before Receiving the Commandments – Deuteronomy 9:9-18
Moses fasted for 40 days when he went up
to the mountain to receive the commandments of God written on stone
tablets. This was an unusual and miraculous fast if we take it at face
value. Moses says that he did not eat food nor drink water during the 40
days (Deuteronomy 9:9). Let’s assume that means he did not drink
anything else either. A human body cannot survive extended periods of
time without water unless God works some kind of miracle.
After he came down from the mountain of
God and saw the people transgressing the commandments that were just
given, Moses angrily breaks the tablets of stone. After a time he
ascends the mountain once again and proceeds to fast another 40 days
without food and water before receiving the law once more (Deuteronomy
9:18, 25, 26; 10:10).
David Mourning His Child’s Illness – 2 Samuel 12:1-23
After David had committed adultery with
Bathsheba he learned that she was pregnant. David had her husband
executed so that he could take her to be his wife. At some point after
the baby was born Nathan the prophet confronted David about his sin.
David confessed and repented (2 Samuel 12:1-14).
Even though David repented before God,
there were still consequences for his actions. The prophet told David
that the child would die. After the prophet left, the young boy became
very ill. David immediately went into prayer and fasting for his son. He
knew that God said the child would die, but he had hoped that he might
find grace in the eyes of God.
David refused to eat while the child was
ill. After the seventh day his son died. When David’s servants told him
about the child’s death, David cleaned himself up, ceased from his
mourning and began to eat once again (2 Samuel 12:15-20).
The servants were surprised by the
actions of the king. But David said that now that the child had died,
there was nothing that could be done. He would one day see his son again
in Heaven (2 Samuel 12:23).
Elijah Fasted While Escaping Jezebel – 1 Kings 19:4-8
Wicked Queen Jezebel threatened to kill the prophet Elijah
after he won the great victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount
Carmel. Elijah fled to Beer-sheba where he left his servant. Then he
traveled alone another day into the wilderness.
Elijah found a juniper tree and rested.
He prayed to God to allow him to die. He did not really want to die. If
he did he could have stayed where he was and let the queen take care of
him. Elijah was very discouraged and lay down for a nap. An angel came
and fed him (1 Kings 19:5, 6). Elijah took the food and then went back
to sleep.
After being fed by the angel a second
time, Elijah prepared for a great journey. The Bible says that Elijah
traveled for 40 days in the strength of that food until he arrived at
Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:7, 8). This is the same mountain where Moses
received the 10 Commandments. It was called Mount Sinai during Moses’
time.
Ezra Fasted While Mourning Over Sin – Ezra 10:6-17
The Jews began to return to Israel after
the Babylonian captivity. Yet they had disobeyed God’s laws during
their captivity. Ezra gathered the people together to confront them for
their sins.
Ezra 10:6 does not say specifically how
long his fast was (though there is indication that it lasted 3 days
while waiting for the people to gather). The Bible does tell us that he
did not eat any bread and only drank water during this fast. He fasted
because he was mourning the sins of those who had been carried away from
Israel but had finally returned.
Esther Fasted for the Safety of the Jews – Esther 4:15-17
Mordecai heard that the Jews were to be
exterminated from the kingdom of Ahasuerus. This kingdom stretched from
India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1). The reason for the genocide was because
one man, Haman, did not like Mordecai and his family. He felt that
Mordecai did not show him proper respect.
Queen Esther
was a Jew but Haman did not know this. Mordecai came to his cousin
Esther to ask her to petition the king to spare the Jews. Because of
royal tradition, it was not appropriate for Esther to enter the king’s
court without an invitation. Even as queen she could be executed for
approaching the king without an invitation (Esther 4:11).
Mordecai told Esther that God may have
given her the position in the kingdom that she had for the sole purpose
of saving the Jewish race (Esther 4:14). She agreed to approach the
king, but she asked Mordecai to spread the word to the Jews that they
should fast for 3 days without food or drink. She fasted in the same
manner.
Thankfully Esther was accepted into the presence of the king and the Jewish people were saved.
Darius Fasted For the Safety of Daniel – Daniel 6:18-23
King Darius was tricked into signing a
law that put his friend Daniel in grave danger. A law was proposed that
for 30 days no one could pray to, or ask help from, any deity or power
except the king. The men who wrote the law knew that Daniel prayed three
times a day to God. They had the king sign the law so that they could
trap Daniel and get rid of him from the kingdom (Daniel 6:4-9). The
punishment for this crime was to be cast into a den of lions.
Of course Daniel was caught praying to
God. He was brought before the king who had no ability to back out of
the law even though Daniel was his friend. King Darius said that he
hoped Daniel’s God would be powerful enough to save Daniel from being
eaten.
Then Darius went to his home and fasted
(Daniel 6:18). The Bible does not say what this fast included but it
seems to indicate it was more than just food. We are told that the king
did not allow music to be played that night. He also did not sleep. The
king forfeited more than food for his fast.
King Darius was relieved to find that
Daniel survived the night. Darius then proclaimed that Daniel’s God was
the true God. The king even declared that God’s power was greater than
all the kingdoms of the earth. He proclaimed that God’s kingdom would be
established forever (Daniel 6:25-28).
Daniel Fasted for an Answer to Prayer – Daniel 10:1-3
Daniel fasted and prayed for
understanding of a vision in Daniel 10. Verses 2 and 3 tell us that this
fast was for 3 weeks. The vision Daniel saw showed what would become of
the people of God in the future.
A “Daniel Fast” is characterized by only eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Daniel abstained from “pleasant bread,”
meat, and wine. These words, along with Daniel’s other fast (Daniel
1:12, 15, 16), are the basis for what many call a “Daniel fast.” It is a
type of fasting that is characterized by only eating fruits, vegetables
and whole grains. The only drink approved for the fast is water. There
are variations in what foods are considered appropriate on this fast,
but those are the generally accepted guidelines.
Jesus Fasted Before Temptation by Satan – Matthew 4:1-2
Before Jesus was tempted by Satan and
before He started His public ministry, He fasted 40 days. The Bible says
that Jesus was lead by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness (Matthew
4:1). This verse indicates that the purpose of Christ going into the
wilderness was for the temptation that would come. Verse 2 tells us that
for 40 days and nights before He was subjected to a personal attack by
Satan, Jesus fasted.
Though physically weak (Jesus was hungry), Jesus was spiritually well prepared for the temptation that followed.
Paul Fasted After His Conversion – Acts 9:1-9
Saul was a man who persecuted
Christians. He had gotten permission from the Jewish leadership to go to
Damascus and arrest any who claimed allegiance to Christ. Along the way
to Damascus Saul (whose name was later changed to Paul) had a personal
encounter with the Lord. We call this his conversion on the road to Damascus.
Part of this encounter involved a bright
light which left Paul blinded. Paul was in Damascus for 3 days without
sight. He also did not eat or drink (Acts 9:9). This could have been
because of repentance or shock for everything that had recently
transpired. Either way, Paul sacrificed food and drink for 3 days in
exchanged for a relationship with the Lord.
Church Elders in Antioch Fasted Before Sending out Missionaries – Acts 13:1-3
Barnabas took Paul to Antioch. The older
Christian saw something in the new convert that others could not see.
Barnabas actively worked to train Paul in the teachings of Christianity.
After a time of fasting and prayer the
Holy Spirit told the leaders of the church to separate Paul and Barnabas
for a special work (Acts 13:2, 3). These two men were sent from the
church as the first missionaries. Barnabas and Paul began their
missionary journey by preaching everywhere they went.
More Examples of Fasting
Matthew 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. (Read More...)
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.
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:
Mark 9:29 - And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
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,
Acts 13:3 - And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid [their] hands on them, they sent [them] away.
Esther 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.
Isaiah 58:1-14 - Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Read More...)
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. (Read More...)
Isaiah 58:6 - [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?
Acts 13:2 - 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.
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.
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.
Matthew 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? (Read More...)
Matthew 5:6 - Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
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.
Matthew 4:4 - But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 17:20-22 - And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Read More...)
Nehemiah 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,
Ezra 8:23 - So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
5
Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a
time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together
again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of
self-control.
7
When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the
rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites
heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.
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
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.”
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.
3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
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.”
28
Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without
eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of
the covenant—the Ten Commandments.
12 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
- 10 When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn;
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
12 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
13
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for
he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.
3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
4
I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome
God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep
his commandments,
5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
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.
17
The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the
ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.)
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
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.
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.
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?
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.”
- 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
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