Why Have You Fasted?

“‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers. Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord? “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭3‬-‭7‬ ‭‬‬

The Israelites were complaining that God wasn’t acknowledging their fast. God pointed out through the Prophet Isaiah that although they may have been fasting from food or water, their heart was not towards Him. Instead they were seeking pleasure and exploiting those who worked for them.

It sounds like they fasted to cause strife and debates. It was kind of like “look at my spirituality.” They wanted to be seen. They wanted their voices to be heard. God let them know “that is not acceptable.”

God chose a fast that helped others through service. He is about loosening the bonds of wickedness. He is about removing heavy burdens. He is about setting the captives free and breaking yokes. He is about sharing food with the hungry, clothing the naked, providing a place to sleep with the outcast, He is about being available to help your own family. I admit these are aspects of fasting I have never heard before until recently listening to preaching by John Mark Comer and Tyler Stanton about fasting and prayer.

From this I learn that in fasting there is a time for abstaining from food and praying, but also of service to those in my community. Fasting is also about meeting the needs of others around me. I have given money saved when fasting to help others, but I am not sure that I have actually served outside outside of how I normally serve even when not fasting.

So what have I learned from this fast recorded in the Bible?

• Abstaining from food and water is not the only part of a spiritual fast.
• My actions must line up with the heart of God as I fast.
• If I remain unchanged in a fast, it is not of God.
• Fasting should not be for the purpose of being seen by others.
• Fasting does not make me more righteous than others.
• My outward appearance should not show others that I am fasting.
• A fast is to draw me closer to God.
• I can’t complain when a fast does not bring about the results that I expect from God.
• Serving others is to be part of a spiritual fast.
• As a Christian, but especially during a fast, there should be effort to loose the bonds of wickedness, to remove heavy burdens, remove heavy burdens from others, help to set oppressed free, break off yokes, feed the hungry, provide a place to sleep, and cloth the naked.

Lord, I recognize that I have done many fasts with the wrong motive and heart. Forgive me for giving You lest than the best that You deserve. Help me to be more intentional in my service to others. Help me not to complain when Your answer doesn’t look like I expect, but instead to keep my focus on allowing You to change me, to draw closer to You, and to meet the needs of others. Amen!