Using Scripture to Inform Fasting and Prayer Practices
Scripture presents fasting and prayer as intertwined spiritual disciplines, practiced both individually and corporately in response to specific circumstances. The Mosaic law prescribed only one mandatory fast—on the Day of Atonement [4]. Beyond this, biblical fasting emerged organically in contexts of national crisis, personal affliction, and seeking divine guidance.
Biblical Occasions for Fasting
The Old Testament records fasting during judgments of God, public calamities, afflictions of the church, and approaching danger [2]. Daniel exemplifies the practice: "I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes" [5]. During the Babylonian captivity, Jews observed four annual fasts in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months [4]. Ezra's company "fasted and prayed" before their dangerous journey, demonstrating fasting as "a demonstration of need before God" [10]. Public fasts were proclaimed with trumpet blasts to express national humiliation and supplicate divine favor [4].
The Spirit of True Fasting
Isaiah 58 provides Scripture's most penetrating critique of fasting divorced from justice. God asks, "Is not this the fasting, that I have chosen, to loose the bands of wickedness, to take off the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free?" [7]. True fasting "creates an awareness of injustice and oppression and prompts the practitioner to reach out to help the needy" [8]. Jeremiah warns that ritual observance without repentance fails: "When they fast, I will not hear their cry" [3]. Fasting should serve "for the chastening of the soul" and "for the humbling of the soul," directed toward God rather than human approval [2].
Jesus' Teaching on Practice
Jesus assumes his followers will fast—"when you fast," not "if"—but forbids making it "a subject of display" [2, 6]. He instructs that fasting should be done "in secret," where "your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you" [6]. This teaching corrects the abuse of fasting practices that predated Jesus' ministry [9]. Prayer and fasting frequently appear together in Scripture [9], with fasting accompanying prayer during the ordination of ministers in Acts [2].
The physical effects could be severe—the psalmist describes knees weak through fasting and a body lacking fat [1]—yet the practice remained voluntary except for the Day of Atonement, undertaken as a means of focusing attention on God during times requiring particular spiritual intensity.
Sources
- Psalms “My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat. -- Psalms 109:24”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fasting — Spirit of, explained -- Isa 58:6,7. Not to be made a subject of display -- Mt 6:16-18. Should be to God -- Zec 7:5; Mt 6:18. For the chastening of the soul -- Ps 69:10. For the humbling of the soul -- Ps 35:13. Observed on occasions of Judgments of God. -- Joe 1:14; 2:12. Public calamities. -- 2Sa 1:12. Afflictions of the Church. -- Lu 5:33-35. Afflictions of others. -- Ps 35:13; Da 6:18. Private afflictions. -- 2Sa 12:16. Approaching danger. -- Es 4:16. Ordination of ministers. -- Ac 13:3; 14:23. Accompanied by Prayer. -- Ezr 8:23; Da 9:3. Confession of si”
- Jeremiah “When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and meal offering, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. -- Jeremiah 14:12”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Fasts — + One fast only was appointed by the Mosaic law, that on the day of atonement. There is no mention of any other periodical fast in the Old Testament except in (Zechariah 7:1-7; 8:19) From these passages it appears that the Jews, during their captivity, observed four annual fasts,--in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months. + Public fasts were occasionally proclaimed to express national humiliation and to supplicate divine favor. In the case of public danger the proclamation appears to have been accompanied with the blowing of trumpets. (Joel 2:1-15) (See ”
- Daniel “I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. -- Daniel 9:3”
- Matthew “so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. -- Matthew 6:18”
- Isaiah “Isaiah 58:6 (Geneva1599) — Is not this the fasting, that I haue chosen, to loose the bandes of wickednes, to take off the heauie burdens, and to let the oppressed goe free, and that ye breake euery yoke?”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 58:6: 58:6-7 True fasting creates an awareness of injustice and oppression and prompts the practitioner to reach out to help the needy in their struggles (see 42:7; Matt 25:35-36; Jas 1:27).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:16: 6:16 Prayer and fasting are frequently connected (Lev 23:27-32; Neh 9:1-2; Zech 7:3-5; 8:19; Luke 18:12). The practice had been abused before Jesus’ time (Isa 58:3-12).”
- Ezra (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezra 8:23: 8:23 fasted . . . prayed: In the Old Testament, fasting often accompanied prayer as a demonstration of need before God (1 Kgs 21:9; 2 Chr 20:3; Neh 1:4; Dan 9:3).”