Fasting—found seventy-seven times in sixty-five verses
Variations: fast, fasted, fastest, fasting, fastings
First usage: Judges 20:26 (fasted)
Last usage: 2 Corinthians 11:27 (fastings)
Defined: abstaining from all food or food and drink along with other self-pleasing activities
Interesting fact: Judges 20:26 records the first direct mention of fasting. Yet, the command to the Israelites to “afflict your souls” in Leviticus 16:29 most likely refers to a time of fasting. Isaiah 58:3 confirms this fact as it directly associates fasting to the afflicting of one’s soul: “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.” Furthermore, the Bible rebukes them for taking pleasure in the day of their fast, rather than abstaining from these things.
Bible study tip: Study the Bible dispensationally by considering it in sections (i.e., the Law, the Gospels, the Epistles, etc.). Some practices found in scripture are applicable to a single dispensation or several of them, while others cross all dispensational lines. Look for statements suggesting whether or not your study is tied to one dispensation or if it is transdispensational. For example, praying that one’s flight not be on the Sabbath (Matthew 24:20) would not be applicable to the Church Age when there is no Sabbath today (Colossians 2:16-17).
Sunday, Day 78—Church Day (no devotional)
Monday, Day 79—What Is Fasting?
Tuesday, Day 80—Fasting Not Optional
Wednesday, Day 81—Church Night (no devotional)
Thursday, Day 82—Fastings’ Proper Motive
Friday, Day 83—The Times for Fasting
Saturday, Day 84—Fasting Afflicts the Soul
Day 78: Church Day
Matthew 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.