Occasions for Fasting

“Fasting is a laudable practice and we have reason to lament that it is generally neglected among Christians.”

~ Matthew Henry

“I wonder whether we have ever fasted? I wonder whether it has even occurred to us that we ought to be considering the question of fasting? The fact is, that this whole subject seems to have dropped right out of our lives and right out

of our whole Christian thinking.”

~ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Occasions for FastingThe day of atonement

Leviticus 16:29

This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on

the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.

“They must refrain from all bodily refreshments and delights, in token of inward humiliation and contrition of soul for their sins. They all fasted on this day from food (except the sick and the children), and laid aside their ornaments, and did not anoint themselves.” Matthew Henry’s

Commentary on Leviticus

Acts 27:9

Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was

now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, ….

Occasions for FastingThe day of atonementWhen they were at war

Judges 20:26Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the

LORD and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

1Samuel 7:6So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it

out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.

Remember…

We are in a war!

Occasions for FastingThe day of atonementWhen they were at warWhen loved ones were sick

2 Samuel 12:16,1716 David therefore pleaded with

God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the

ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

Psalm 35:11-1311 Fierce witnesses rise up;They ask me things that I do not know. 12 They reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul.13 But as for me, when they were

sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.

Occasions for FastingThe day of atonementWhen they were at warWhen loved ones were sickWhen loved ones died

2 Samuel 1:11,12… all the valiant men arose and

took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons; and they brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the

tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Occasions for FastingThe day of atonementWhen they were at warWhen loved ones were sickWhen loved ones diedWhen they sought forgiveness

Deuteronomy 9:15-1815 “So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire; and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.

Deuteronomy 9:15-1816 And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the LORD your God—had made for yourselves a molded calf! You had turned aside quickly from the way which the LORD had commanded you.

Deuteronomy 9:15-1817 Then I took the two tablets and threw them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes.

Deuteronomy 9:15-1818 And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you committed in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.

Occasions for FastingThe day of atonementWhen they were at warWhen loved ones were sickWhen loved ones diedWhen they sought forgiveness

Tonight

How, How Not, and How Long?