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 sin 1Sa 7:6; Ne 9:1,2 . Mourning Joe 2:12 . Humiliation De 9:18; Ne 9:1 - Promises connected with Isa 58:8-12; Mt 6:18 - OF HYPOCRITES . Described Isa 58:4,5 . Ostentatious Mt 6:16 . Boasted of, before God Lu 18:12 . Rejected Isa 58:3; Jer 14:12 - Extraordinary Exemplified . Our Lord Mt 4:2 . Moses Ex 34:28; De 9:9,18 . Elijah 1Ki 19:8 - National Exemplified . Israel Jud 20:26; Ezr 8:21; Es 4:3,16; Jer 36:9 . Men of Jabesh-gilead 1Sa 31:13 . Ninevites Jon 3:5-8 - Of Saints Exemplified . David 2Sa 12:16; Ps 109:24 . Nehemiah Ne 1:4 . Esther Es 4:16 . Daniel Da 9:3 . Disciples of John Mt 9:14 . Anna Lu 2:37 . Cornelius Ac 10:30 . Christians Ac 13:2 . Apostles 2Co 6:5 . Paul 2Co 11:27 - Of the wicked-Exemplified . Elders of Jezreel 1Ki 21:12 . Ahab 1Ki 21:27 . Pharisees Mr 2:18; Lu 18:12

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In all ages, and among all nations, fasting has been practiced in times of sorrow, and affliction, Jon 3:5. It may be regarded as a dictate of nature, which under these circumstances refuses nourishment, and suspends the cravings of hunger. In the Bible no example is mentioned of fasting, properly so-called, before Moses. His forty days’ fast, like that of Elijah and of our Lord, was miraculous, De 9:9 1Ki 19:8 Mt 4:2. The Jews often had recourse to this practice, when they had occasion to humble themselves before God, to confess their sins and deprecate his displeasure, Jud 20:26 1Sa 7:6 2Sa 12:16 Ne 9:1 1Ki 19:8 Jer 36:9. Especially in times of public calamity, they appointed extraordinary fasts, and made even the children at the breast fast, Joe 2:16 Da 10:2-3. They began the observance of their fasts, at sunset, and remained without eating until the same hour the next day. The great day of expiation was probably the only annual and national fast day among them. It does not appear by his own practice or by his commands, that our Lord instituted any particular fast. On one occasion, he intimated that his disciples would fast after his death, Lu 5:34,35. Accordingly, the life of the apostles and first believers was a life of self-denials, sufferings, and fasting, 2Co 5:7 11:27. Our Savior recognized the custom, and the apostles practiced it as occasion required, Mt 6:16-18 Ac 13:3 1Co 7:5.

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FASTING. → Observed on occasions of public calamities 2Sa 1:12 → Afflictions 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 Da 9:3 → Confession of sin 1Sa 7:6; Ne 9:1,2 → Humiliation De 9:18; Ne 9:1 → During forty days
* Moses De 9:9,18
* Jesus Mt 4:1,2; Mr 1:12,13; Lu 4:1,2

→ Habitual
* By John's disciples Mt 9:14
* By Anna Lu 2:37
* By Pharisees Mt 9:14; Mr 2:18; Lu 18:12
* By Cornelius Ac 10:30
* By Paul 2Co 6:5; 11:27

→ In times of bereavement
* Of the people of Jabesh-gilead, for Saul and his sons 1Sa 31:13; 1Ch 10:12
* Of David, at the time of Saul's death 2Sa 1:12
* Of Abner's death 2Sa 3:35

→ Prolonged
* For three weeks, by Daniel Da 10:2,3
* For forty days, by Moses Ex 24:18; 34:28; De 9:9,18
* Elijah 1Ki 19:8
* Jesus Mt 4:2

→ See HUMILIATION → See HUMILITY → UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO Ezr 8:21-23; Ps 35:13; 69:10; Isa 58:3-7; Jer 14:12; Da 10:3; Joe 1:14; 2:12,13; Zec 7:5; 8:19; Mt 6:16-18; 9:14,15; 17:21; Ac 27:9,33,34; 1Co 7:5 → INSTANCES OF
* Of the Israelites

In the conflict between the other tribes with the tribe of Benjamin, on account of the wrong suffered by a Levite's concubine Jud 20:26 When they went to Mizpeh for the ark of the covenant 1Sa 7:6
* Of David

Upon the death of Saul 2Sa 1:12 During the sickness of the child born to him by Bath-sheba 2Sa 12:16-22 While interceding in prayer for his friends Ps 35:13 In his zeal for Zion Ps 69:10 In prayer for himself and his adversaries Ps 109:4,24
* Of Ahab, when Elijah prophesied the destruction of himself and his house 1Ki 21:27; with 20:29
* Of Jehoshaphat, at the time of the invasion of the confederated armies of the Canaanites and Syrians 2Ch 20:3
* Of Ezra, on account of the idolatrous marriages of the Jews Ezr 10:6
* Of Nehemiah, on account of the desolation of Jerusalem and the temple Ne 1:4
* Of the Jews, when Jeremiah prophesied against Judea and Jerusalem Jer 36:9
* In Babylon, with prayer for divine deliverance and guidance Ezr 8:21,23
* Of Darius, when he put Daniel in the lions' den Da 6:18
* Of Daniel

On account of the captivity of the people, with prayer for their deliverance Da 9:3 At the time of his vision Da 10:1-3
* Ninevites, when Jonah preached to them Jon 3:5-10
* By Paul, at the time of his conversion Ac 9:9
* Of the disciples, at the time of the consecration of Barnabas and Saul Ac 13:2,3
* Of the consecration of the elders Ac 14:23