Fasting Devotion - Some Basics (Day 1)

From The Nelson Study Bible

fasting - [Heb. trum] [Est. 4:16; 2 Sam. 12:23] Strong's #6684

The Hebrew root word simply means "to abstain from food." At times fasting meant abstaining from:

• drinking, 
• bathing, 
• anointing with oil, or 
• sexual intercourse as well. 

In essence, fasting acknowledges human frailty before God and appeals to His mercy. 

Fasting was a common practice in the ancient world, associated with:

• mourning for the dead (2 Sam. 12:21, 22),
• intercessory prayer (Est. 4:3, 16),
• repentance and contrition for sin (Jer. 36:9; Jon. 3:5),
• and times of distress (Judg. 20:26; Neh. 1:4).

Fasting was required for the Day of Atonement (see the phrase "afflict your souls" in Lev. 16:31). There were also four fast days that commemorated the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (Zech. 8:19). Fasts varied in length from one day (1 Sam. 14:24; Dan. 6:18) to seven days (1 Sam. 31:13) and could even last up to forty days on extraordinary occasions (Ex. 34:28). The strict fasts lasted from sunset to sunset, whereas the more lenient fasts lasted from sunrise to sunset.

But no matter what type of fasting was performed, the prophet Isaiah admonished his people to participate in acts of righteousness and social justice with their fasting (Is. 58:3-9).

I encourage you to go back through this word study and look up the Scriptures listed. Some of the references would require you to read the context around each verse to receive a full understanding of each meaning.

Allow God to guide you in deciding what to fast, why you are fasting, and for what time.