4. Fasting in the Bible: The Old Testament

4.3. Fasting in a Time of Sorrow

“When the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all their warriors set out, and after marching throughout the night, removed the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and brought them to Jabesh, where they cremated them. Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.” (1 Sm 31,11-13)

“David seized his garments and rent them, and all the men who were with him did likewise. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the soldiers of the Lord of the clans of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.” (2 Sm 1,11-12)

“When all the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead had heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, its warriors rose to a man, recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak of Jabesh, and fasted seven days.” (1 Chr 10,11-12)

4.4. Prayer and Fasting for Healing

“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan answered David: ‘The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. But since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.’ Then Nathan returned to his house. The Lord struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.” (2 Sm 12,13-17)

4.5. Fasting and Inner Healing in an Experience with God

“He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again, but the angel of the Lord came back a second time, touched him and ordered, ‘Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!’ He got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.

There he came to a cave, where he took shelter. But the word of the Lord came to him, ‘Why are you here, Elijah?’ He answered: ‘I have been most zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, but the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, torn down the altars, and put your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.’

Then the Lord said, ‘Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will be passing by.’ A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord – but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake – but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was fire – but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, ‘Elijah, why are you here.” (1 Kgs 19,6-13)

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