Reasons for fasting

Situations in which fasting is appropriate

Bereavement

1 Chronicles 10:11–12 NRSV

But when all Jabesh-gilead heard everything that the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant warriors got up and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

See also 2 Sa 1:11–12; 2 Sa 3:31–35

Distress

Esther 4:3 NRSV

In every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

See also 1 Sa 1:7; 1 Sa 20:34; 1 Ki 21:4–6; Ps 109:24; Da 6:18; Ac 27:33

Penitence

1 Samuel 7:5–6 NRSV

Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and said, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.

See also Ne 9:1–3; Da 9:3–6 Daniel identifies himself with the sin of the people; Da 9:20; Joe 1:13–14; Joe 2:12–15; Jon 3:5–9

Seeking God’s intervention

2 Samuel 12:15–17 NRSV

Then Nathan went to his house. The Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became very ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child; David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground. The elders of his house stood beside him, urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

See also 2 Ch 20:2–4; Ezr 8:21; Es 4:15–16; Ps 35:13–14

Seeking guidance

Judges 20:26–28 NRSV

Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went back to Bethel and wept, sitting there before the Lord; they fasted that day until evening. Then they offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of well-being before the Lord. And the Israelites inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall we go out once more to battle against our kinsfolk the Benjaminites, or shall we desist?” The Lord answered, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”

See also Dt 9:9 Moses fasts before the revelation of the Law; Da 9:1–3; Da 9:20–23; Da 10:1–2; Da 10:12; Ac 13:1–3 The church receives direction through the Holy Spirit while fasting.

Indicating earnestness

Acts 23:12–13 NRSV

In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who joined in this conspiracy.