Marking Time: Forming Spirituality through the Christian Year

Ses s i on 4: God’ s T imep i ece and God’ s Te l os 91

C. Fasts in the Jewish calendar

1. Fasts were observed during times of self-denial and mourning.

2. They could either be individual spontaneous responses, or in public, recurring observances as an instrument of the community’s ongoing spiritual formation.

3. Why did individuals fast?

a. To obtain God’s help (2 Sam. 12.16-23; Dan. 9.3)

b. To express repentance for sin (1 Kings 21.27)

c. To mourn over misfortune or loss (Neh. 1.4)

d. To get God to reveal himself (Exod. 34.28)

e. To demonstrate brokenness and commitment to the Lord (Ps. 35.13; Luke 18.12)

4. Why did communities fast?

a. To gain the Lord’s aid and help (Judg. 20.26; 1 Sam. 14.24; Joel 1.14; Esther 4.3; Ezra 8.21-23)

b. To show remorse for sin (1 Sam. 7.6; Jon. 3.5-10), or to mourn the death of leaders (1 Sam. 31.13; 2 Sam. 1.12)