To Fast or Not To Fast

By Ariel Hamblin

Do we really know what true fasting means? Or, do we go by age-old traditions that have been passed down to us as to when and how to fast?

In examining the Bible on this subject, I think we have lost the true meaning of fasting. In the latest interpretations, it seems that the word is to deny ourselves. I guess the first thing that comes to mind is to stop eating and drinking, which has always been taught in synagogues and churches. But is this what the Bible teaches? As we search the scriptures, it is clear that the House of Jacob assumed that it meant not to eat or drink.

In a further search of the Bible, we find that G-d was constantly reminding the House of Israel that they did not understand what it meant when He said "to deny yourselves and be righteous". So, let us look at what He said about this very important commandment (mitz-vah) for their lives then and in our lives now.

In the book of Zechariah, there is chapter dealing very clearly with this subject; it is the seventh chapter. The situation was that Zechariah, with other prophets and priests, had returned to the land of Israel (Eretz) and Jerusalem from Persia and Babylon to restore the temple and the city of Jerusalem.

During this time of exile to Babylon and Persia, some Israelites, mainly farmers and country people, had remained in the land. Some of the people were from Bethel (Bet-El) a few miles north of Jerusalem on the Judean-Samaria ridge area. These same people came to Zechariah and asked him about fasting, as they had been fasting on the appointed fast days over the last 70 years while all of the rest of the Jews had been taken away into captivity.

The word of the Lord came to Zechariah for him to ask the people, "When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past 70 years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you just feasting for yourselves?" Then the L-rd scolds them and the entire House of Israel for not remembering His words, which he sent through the earlier prophets. Again, through Zechariah, the L-rd said: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other". Apparently it is much easier for many to occasionally do without food, that is, to fast, than to be kind and good to one another daily.

Zechariah goes on to explain how all of Israel had hardened their hearts to the words of the L-rd and continued their religious traditions. When He sent His Spirit through the earlier prophets, the L-rd called them, but they would not listen. So when they had their religious fasts and festivals, He did not listen! He left their land desolate and scattered them among nations where they were strangers.

Then and now, a very few have understood true fasting. G-d did not want their religious dogma. He wanted their hearts to change! As we see through G-d's word that was given to Zechariah, it had very little to do with eating and drinking.

I believe, though it may be difficult to understand, that the L-rd wants our kindness and love for one another, and fear of Him - not our religious traditions and dogma.

It is important to see that this is not an isolated message in the Bible. We will now examine together a few of the many places in the Bible where the L-rd shows us His plan for our attitudes and actions.

In the book of the great Prophet Isaiah, chapter 58, we find the word of the L-rd proclaiming to Isaiah that, again, the people were not listening to His very simple, uncomplicated plan for them. But, as shown many times in the Bible, they are so bound up in religious dogma that they are not hearing Him.

G-d tells Isaiah to shout it aloud to get their attention. Yes, even like a fanfare of many trumpets, so that they will listen. In verse 2, He says they seem to want to do things right! But in the very next verse, we see that it's as if they have yet to hear what G-d has really said. In verse 3, the people complain, "Why have we fasted and You have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?"

The L-rd then explains to them that during the their days of fasting, they were acting very selfishly and exploiting the people who worked for them. The L-rd then says, "You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high."

In verses 5-9, G-d asks them and us, "Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the L-rd?" "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter? When you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the L-rd will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the L-rd will say: "Hear am I".

Then in Micha 6:6-8, it says:

"With what shall I come before the L-rd and bow down before the exalted G-d? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the L-rd be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my first born for my transgressions, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your G-d."


	To Fast or Not To Fast By Ariel Hamblin Do we really know what true fasting means? Or, do we go by age-old traditions that have been passed down to us as to when and how to fast? In examining the Bible on this subject, I think we have lost the true meaning of fasting. In the latest interpretations, it seems that the word is to deny ourselves. I guess the first thing that comes to mind is to stop eating and drinking, which has always been taught in synagogues and churches. But is this what the Bible teaches? As we search the scriptures, it is clear that the House of Jacob assumed that it meant not to eat or drink. In a further search of the Bible, we find that G-d was constantly reminding the House of Israel that they did not understand what it meant when He said "to deny yourselves and be righteous". So, let us look at what He said about this very important commandment (mitz-vah) for their lives then and in our lives now. In the book of Zechariah, there is chapter dealing very clearly with this subject; it is the seventh chapter. The situation was that Zechariah, with other prophets and priests, had returned to the land of Israel (Eretz) and Jerusalem from Persia and Babylon to restore the temple and the city of Jerusalem. During this time of exile to Babylon and Persia, some Israelites, mainly farmers and country people, had remained in the land. Some of the people were from Bethel (Bet-El) a few miles north of Jerusalem on the Judean-Samaria ridge area. These same people came to Zechariah and asked him about fasting, as they had been fasting on the appointed fast days over the last 70 years while all of the rest of the Jews had been taken away into captivity. The word of the Lord came to Zechariah for him to ask the people, "When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past 70 years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you just feasting for yourselves?" Then the L-rd scolds them and the entire House of Israel for not remembering His words, which he sent through the earlier prophets. Again, through Zechariah, the L-rd said: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other". Apparently it is much easier for many to occasionally do without food, that is, to fast, than to be kind and good to one another daily. Zechariah goes on to explain how all of Israel had hardened their hearts to the words of the L-rd and continued their religious traditions. When He sent His Spirit through the earlier prophets, the L-rd called them, but they would not listen. So when they had their religious fasts and festivals, He did not listen! He left their land desolate and scattered them among nations where they were strangers. Then and now, a very few have understood true fasting. G-d did not want their religious dogma. He wanted their hearts to change! As we see through G-d's word that was given to Zechariah, it had very little to do with eating and drinking. I believe, though it may be difficult to understand, that the L-rd wants our kindness and love for one another, and fear of Him - not our religious traditions and dogma. It is important to see that this is not an isolated message in the Bible. We will now examine together a few of the many places in the Bible where the L-rd shows us His plan for our attitudes and actions. In the book of the great Prophet Isaiah, chapter 58, we find the word of the L-rd proclaiming to Isaiah that, again, the people were not listening to His very simple, uncomplicated plan for them. But, as shown many times in the Bible, they are so bound up in religious dogma that they are not hearing Him. G-d tells Isaiah to shout it aloud to get their attention. Yes, even like a fanfare of many trumpets, so that they will listen. In verse 2, He says they seem to want to do things right! But in the very next verse, we see that it's as if they have yet to hear what G-d has really said. In verse 3, the people complain, "Why have we fasted and You have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?" The L-rd then explains to them that during the their days of fasting, they were acting very selfishly and exploiting the people who worked for them. The L-rd then says, "You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high." In verses 5-9, G-d asks them and us, "Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the L-rd?" "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter? When you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the L-rd will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the L-rd will say: "Hear am I". Then in Micha 6:6-8, it says: "With what shall I come before the L-rd and bow down before the exalted G-d? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the L-rd be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my first born for my transgressions, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your G-d." Recommended Reading I Sam 15:22 Isa. 1: 13-20 Isa. 58 Amos 5: 14-15 Zech. 7 Hose. 6:46 Micha 6:8