Fasting and Prayer: Biblical Relationship and Response
Biblical Relationship Between Fasting and Prayer
Fasting and prayer are closely linked in biblical tradition. The practice of fasting, or abstaining from food and drink, is often accompanied by prayer as a means of demonstrating need before God and seeking His intervention [8]. This connection is evident in various biblical accounts, including Ezra 8:23, where Ezra fasted and prayed to God for protection on a journey [3].
The biblical basis for combining fasting and prayer is rooted in the Old Testament. In Psalm 109:24, the psalmist describes his experience of fasting, saying, "My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat" [1]. This physical expression of humility and dependence on God is often associated with prayer. For example, Daniel "set his face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes" (Daniel 9:3) [4].
The prophets also emphasize the importance of genuine fasting accompanied by prayer and righteous living. Isaiah 58:6-7 explains that true fasting involves loosening the chains of injustice, letting the oppressed go free, and sharing food with the hungry [9]. Jeremiah, on the other hand, warns that fasting without a genuine heart change will not be accepted by God (Jeremiah 14:12) [2].
In the New Testament, Jesus teaches his disciples about the proper attitude towards fasting, cautioning against making it a display of religiosity (Matthew 6:16-18) [7]. The connection between fasting and prayer is still evident, as seen in the practice of the early Christian church (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).
The Reformed tradition, as represented by Calvin, understands fasting as an outward expression of sorrow and separation from worldly enjoyments to focus on prayer [6]. one commentary tradition by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown notes that Daniel's fasting was a sign of sorrow, not an end in itself, and that it was accompanied by prayer (Daniel 10:2-3) [10].
The biblical relationship between fasting and prayer highlights the importance of humility, dependence on God, and a genuine heart change. While fasting is not an indispensable Christian obligation, it can be a meaningful way to express sorrow, seek God's intervention, and demonstrate need before Him [10].
The practice of fasting and prayer is not limited to individual devotion but is also observed in public and communal contexts. In times of national crisis or calamity, public fasts were proclaimed to express humiliation and supplicate divine favor [5]. This communal aspect of fasting and prayer underscores the importance of unity and shared dependence on God.
Sources
- Psalms “My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat. -- Psalms 109:24”
- Jeremiah “When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and meal offering, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. -- Jeremiah 14:12”
- Ezra “Ezra 8:23 (LEB) — So we fasted and sought our God for this and he responded to our prayer.”
- Daniel “I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. -- Daniel 9:3”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Fasts — + One fast only was appointed by the Mosaic law, that on the day of atonement. There is no mention of any other periodical fast in the Old Testament except in (Zechariah 7:1-7; 8:19) From these passages it appears that the Jews, during their captivity, observed four annual fasts,--in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months. + Public fasts were occasionally proclaimed to express national humiliation and to supplicate divine favor. In the case of public danger the proclamation appears to have been accompanied with the blowing of trumpets. (Joel 2:1-15) (See ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 84.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1 1:26 3:22 9:6 9:6 9:6 14:13 Exodus 7:11 14:13 14:31 32:32 Leviticus 19:14 Deuteronomy 7:7-8 10:17 13:3 1 Kings 19:18 Job 4:18 Psalms 7:8 35:19 37:5 55:22 55:22 69:28 73:1-12 122:6 128:2 137:6 138:8 138:8 145:18 Proverbs 3:5 5:15 8:36 10:4 Ecclesiastes 9:3 Isaiah 11:4 26:9 30:15 30:21 33:22 42:1 45:23 48:11 50:5 53:1 55:11 55:13 60:2 60:2 60:2 64:8 Jeremiah 5:8 17:9 23:29 31:33 Ezekiel 11:20 Daniel 12:2 Hosea 1:10-11 Amos 9:36 Zechariah 14:8 Malachi 4:2 Matthew 5:11 5:14 5:15 ”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:16: 6:16 Prayer and fasting are frequently connected (Lev 23:27-32; Neh 9:1-2; Zech 7:3-5; 8:19; Luke 18:12). The practice had been abused before Jesus’ time (Isa 58:3-12).”
- Ezra (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezra 8:23: 8:23 fasted . . . prayed: In the Old Testament, fasting often accompanied prayer as a demonstration of need before God (1 Kgs 21:9; 2 Chr 20:3; Neh 1:4; Dan 9:3).”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 58:6: 58:6-7 True fasting creates an awareness of injustice and oppression and prompts the practitioner to reach out to help the needy in their struggles (see 42:7; Matt 25:35-36; Jas 1:27).”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 10:2: mourning--that is afflicting myself by fasting from "pleasant bread, flesh and wine" (Dan 10:3), as a sign of sorrow, not for its own sake. Compare Mat 9:14, "fast," answering to "mourn" (Dan 10:15). Compare Co1 8:8; Ti1 4:3, which prove that "fasting" is not an indispensable Christian obligation; but merely an outward expression of sorrow, and separation from ordinary worldly enjoyments, in order to give one's self to prayer (Act 13:2). Daniel's mourning was probably for his countrymen, who met with many obstructions to their building of the temple, f”