“Was It For Me You Fasted?”

Ritual fasting is the practice of many religious people, ancient and modern. Those who had been sent into Babylonian captivity had yearly fast to mark the tragic event. When God’s hand restored back to the promised land, some of them asked a very good question, “Shall I weep in the fifth month and abstain, as I have done these many years?” (Zech 7:3). In return, God asked an even better question, “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted?” (7:5).

Fasting in the scriptures is associated with mourning (Matt. 19:14,15; 2 Sam. 3:35; 12:16; Ps. 35:13). Loss of appetite and prayer are good and natural responses to sorrow. Fasting is also associated with deep concern, like for ones’ very survival (Ezra 8:21-23; Esther 4:16). And fasting is associated with a penitent attitude in turning away from sin (1 Kgs. 21:27; Ezra 10:6; Jonah 3:5-7; Joel 2:12-15). 

But the one thing fasting is not: it was never a ritual commanded by God. Search the scripture about feasting and fasting and you will find only of them one commanded on a schedule. 

Turning back to the prophet’s answer from God about fasting, he said what was need was to “Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother” and don’t oppress anyone, even the most vulnerable, like the “widow, stranger or poor” (Zech. 7:9,10). 

True justice, kindness, and compassion always trump any ritual. 

And for further reading on fasting, read Isa. 58:6-10.