A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

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A Compe l l i ng Tes t imony

any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. [29] For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. [30] And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. [31] You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. [32] It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”

2. Corporate fasting is to be a sign of national humility in the face of calamity and emergency, Joel 2.15.

3. Upon the threat of outside enemies and forces, fasts were made as a sign of lowliness and humility before the Lord as the only true source of life and aid, 2 Chron. 20.1-4.

4. For the sake of protection and blessing in traveling, Ezra 8.21-23 – Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. [22] For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” [23] So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

5. Fasting in the ongoing history of Israel and the Church

a. “In the post-exilic period, the number of annual public fasts was increased (see Ezra 8.21–23; Neh 9.1). In Zechariah 8.19 four fast days are specified. These clearly owe their origin to customs established during the Exile, though in later Jewish tradition