Fasting.

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 16
For the humbling of the soul. Pm. 35:13.
OBSERVED ON OCCASIONS OF
ACCOMPANIED BY
OF HYPOCRITES
National—Exemplified. Israel, Judg. 20:2626Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. (Judges 20:26). Ezra 8:2121Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. (Ezra 8:21). Esther 4:3, 163And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. (Esther 4:3)
16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:16). Jer. 36:99And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 36:9). Men of Jabesh-gilead, 1 Sam. 31:1313And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. (1 Samuel 31:13). Ninevites, Jonah 3:5-85So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. (Jonah 3:5‑8).
Of Saints—Exemplified. David, 2 Sam. 12:1616David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. (2 Samuel 12:16). Psa. 109:2424My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness. (Psalm 109:24). Nehemiah., Neh. 1:44And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, (Nehemiah 1:4). Esther, Esther 4:1616Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:16). Daniel, Dan. 9:33And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: (Daniel 9:3). Disciples of John, Matt. 9:1414Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? (Matthew 9:14). Anna, Luke 2:3737And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. (Luke 2:37). Cornelius, Acts 10:3030And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, (Acts 10:30). Primitive Christians, Acts 13:22As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (Acts 13:2). Apostles, 2 Cor. 6:55In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; (2 Corinthians 6:5). Paul, 2 Cor. 11:2727In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (2 Corinthians 11:27).
Of the wicked—Exemplified. Elders of Jezreel 1 Kin. 21:12. Ahab, 1 Kin. 21:27. Pharisees. Mar. 2:18. Luke 18:1212I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (Luke 18:12).