Fasting: What It’s All About

In a season when many people give something up, our family wondered what the Bible had to say about fasting. Why did people fast in the Bible?

We looked up these verses and tried to use our own words to explain why the person fasted. (Complete verses and our responses are at the end of the blog)

2 Samuel 1:12

2 Samuel 12:15-17

2 Chronicles 20:2-4

Ezra 8:21

Esther 4:16

Jonah 3:4-6 

Matthew 4:1-2

There are many more examples of fasting. And there are examples of how not to fast.  But, we thought it might be good to start here.

 

Ask your kids, “Why might we give up something in this season?”

(Here is what the kids in our home came up with)

• We know we are sinners.
• We are forgiven because of Jesus, but fasting might help us recognize our sin and be more thankful for Jesus.
• To remind us that Jesus fasted.
• We can spend time with God.
• God might use that time to prepare us for ministry or for fighting temptation.

Let us know what you came up with!

2 Samuel 1:12 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.

(when they were sad because someone died)

2 Samuel 12:15-17 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. 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.

(when he was looking for help, asking in prayer, wanting something to happen)

2 Chronicles 20:2-4 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

(when help or advice, for a whole group of people)

Ezra 8:21 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.

(humbling, asking for safe travel for family, fast about smaller things too)

Esther 4:16 “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.”

(for anyone who asks)

Jonah 3:4-6 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 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.

(they want salvation and to be rescued, they knew they were naughty and they were sorry, repentance, they knew they were wrong)

Matthew 4:1-2

(Jesus fasted! He didn’t do anything wrong. The Spirit told him to. Maybe he wanted to spend time with God. Maybe God was getting him ready to face the devil. Maybe it was preparing Jesus to minister to others.)