Topical Bible: Fasting: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

◄ Fasting: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To ►

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Fasting, a spiritual discipline observed throughout biblical history, is often associated with prayer, repentance, and seeking God's guidance. The practice involves abstaining from food, and sometimes drink, to focus on spiritual matters. Below are various scriptures that relate to fasting, illustrating its significance and application in different contexts.

Old Testament References:

1. Moses' Fast on Mount Sinai: In Exodus 34:28, Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights while on Mount Sinai, receiving the Ten Commandments from God. "Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments."

2. David's Fast for His Child: In 2 Samuel 12:16, David fasted and prayed for the life of his child. "David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground."

3. Jehoshaphat's Fast for Deliverance: In 2 Chronicles 20:3, King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout Judah when faced with a vast army. "Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah."

4. Ezra's Fast for Protection: Ezra 8:21 describes Ezra proclaiming a fast to seek God's protection for their journey. "There by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions."

5. Esther's Fast for Intervention: In Esther 4:16, Queen Esther called for a fast before approaching the king. "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do."

New Testament References:

1. Jesus' Fast in the Wilderness: In Matthew 4:2, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights before beginning His public ministry. "After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry."

2. Teaching on Fasting: In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus instructs on the proper attitude during fasting. "When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

3. Fasting and Prayer for Guidance: In Acts 13:2-3, the early church fasted and prayed before sending out Barnabas and Saul. "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off."

4. Paul's Fast after Conversion: In Acts 9:9, following his encounter with Christ, Paul fasted for three days. "For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything."

5. Fasting in Times of Crisis: In Acts 27:33-34, during a storm at sea, Paul encouraged the crew to eat after a long period of fasting. "Just before dawn, Paul urged them all to eat. 'For the last fourteen days,' he said, 'you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.'"

These scriptures reflect the diverse purposes and contexts of fasting, emphasizing its role in seeking divine intervention, expressing repentance, and preparing for significant spiritual endeavors.

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Ezra 8:21-23
Then 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.
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Psalm 35:13
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.
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Psalm 69:10
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
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Isaiah 58:3-7
Why have we fasted, say they, and you see not? why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors.
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Jeremiah 14:12
When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
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Daniel 10:3
I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
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Joel 1:14
Sanctify you a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry to the LORD,
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Joel 2:12,13
Therefore also now, said the LORD, turn you even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
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Zechariah 7:5
Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast to me, even to me?
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Zechariah 8:19
Thus said the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.
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Matthew 6:16-18
Moreover when you fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
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Matthew 9:14,15
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but your disciples fast not?
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Matthew 17:21
However, this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.
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Acts 27:9,33,34
Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
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1 Corinthians 7:5
Defraud you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
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