Transcript Learning to Fast August 4, 2013 ICF Dakar Jan Kieviet OT Examples - Day of Atonement “The tenth day of this seventh month is the.

Learning to Fast
August 4, 2013
ICF Dakar
Jan Kieviet
OT Examples - Day of Atonement
“The tenth day of this
seventh month is the Day of
Atonement. Hold a sacred
assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food
offering to the Lord. Do not
do any work on that day,
because it is the Day of
Atonement, when
atonement is made for you
before the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 23:27
Maurycy Gottlieb – Jews praying in
the Synagogue on Yom Kippur
OT examples - Jehoshaphat
Some people came and told
Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is
coming against you from
Edom, [..] Alarmed,
Jehoshaphat resolved to
inquire of the Lord, and he
proclaimed a fast for all
Judah. The people of Judah
came together to seek help
from the Lord; indeed, they
came from every town in
Judah to seek him.
2 Chronicles 20:1-4
Michelangelo - Jehoshaphat
OT examples - Daniel
So I turned to the Lord God and
pleaded with him in prayer and
petition, in fasting, and in
sackcloth and ashes. Daniel 9:3
At that time I, Daniel, mourned
for three weeks. I ate no choice
food; no meat or wine touched
my lips; and I used no lotions at
all until the three weeks were
over.
Daniel 10:2
Briton Rivière - Daniel
OT Examples – Ezra & Nehemia
There, by the Ahava Canal, I
proclaimed a fast, so that we
might humble ourselves
before our God and ask him
for a safe journey for us and
our children, with all our
possessions.
Ezra 8:21
When I heard these things, I
sat down and wept. For some
days I mourned and fasted and
prayed before the God of
heaven.
Nehemiah 1:4
Gustave Doré – Ezra kneels in prayer
Jesus in the desert
Jesus, full of the Holy
Spirit, left the Jordan and
was led by the Spirit into
the wilderness, where for
forty days he was tempted
by the devil. He ate nothing
during those days, and at
the end of them he was
hungry.
Luke 4:1
Moretto da Brescia - Christ in
the Wilderness
3 day full fast - Esther
“Go, gather together all the
Jews who are in Susa, and
fast for me. Do not eat or
drink for three days, night or
day. I and my attendants will
fast as you do. When this is
done, I will go to the king,
even though it is against the
law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Esther 4:1
Rembrandt van Rijn - Esther
3 day full fast - Paul
The men travelling with Saul
stood there speechless;
they heard the sound but
did not see anyone. Saul
got up from the ground, but
when he opened his eyes
he could see nothing. So
they led him by the hand
into Damascus. For three
days he was blind, and did
not eat or drink anything.
Acts 9:7-9
Peter Paul Rubens - Paul
Biblical examples summary
Different occasions, purposes and length
 Partial or full fast
 In groups or as individual
 Prescribed and voluntary

So there are more than one practices
 But it are always honest people, seeking the
Lords presence

Matthew 6:16-18
“And when you fast, don’t make it
obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they
try to look miserable and disheveled so
people will admire them for their
fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the
only reward they will ever get.
Matthew 6:16-18
But when you fast, comb your hair
and wash your face. Then no one
will notice that you are fasting, except
your Father, who knows what you do
in private. And your Father, who sees
everything, will reward you.
‘When you fasted [..]
was it really for me?
Zechariah 7:5
Michelangelo - Zechariah
Summary
Fasting is presupposed by Jesus
 Fasting is relational; focusing on God

 not
on people
 not on our ourselves
Fasting is relational; coming as we are
 Fasting is a spiritual exercise
 As a Good Father, the Lord will provide
you with what you need

How to fast?
General ideas
- Fast one day a week
- Fast from food (+ …)
- Drink only water
- Break each fast with a
light meal
- Try to focus on God not on
the physical experience
- Continue doing your daily
work, but take extra time
for prayer
How to fast?
1. 24 hour fast from lunch to lunch
- Skip dinner and breakfast
- Drink juice and water
2. 24 hour fast from dinner to dinner
- Skip breakfast and lunch
3. 36 hour fast from dinner to breakfast
- Skip breakfast, lunch and dinner
4. Fasting for longer periods of time
Learning to Fast