This chapter deals with the national wickedness of the people.
De Hoff, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This chapter contains a severe reproof of the Jews on account of their vices, particularly their hypocrisy in relying on outward ceremonies such as fasting and bodily humiliation while refusing to repent of their sins and obey God’s commandments.’
Here we read that Israel is hypocritical in her religion. Isaiah must be bold and lift up his voice like a trumpet, Isaiah 58:1. The preacher of repentance is not to speak ‘smooth things’ but unceasingly and without restraint, he must call for the people to repent, Isaiah 58:2.
They fast and there is no response from God, Isaiah 58:3, they offer their sacrifices but there is no one there to accept them. In many cases, these fasts were turned into feasts and days of pleasure for the master while the servants were required to engage in hard labour, Isaiah 58:3 / Malachi 3:13-15.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Fast days are generally called holidays, and holidays are days of idleness and pleasure. In numberless cases the fast is turned into a feast.’
Worship was turned into quarrelling and quibbling, Isaiah 58:4, because they deceived themselves into believing that if they performed religious ordinances, God would respond to their needs, Isaiah 58:4 / Philippians 1:15. God asks three questions concerning their fasting, Isaiah 58:5, to which the obvious answer is no.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This was not the type of fasting God approved, Isaiah 1:11 / Psalms 51:16-17 / Luke 18:9-14. It consisted only in His people bowing their heads, not their hearts. Bowing the head like a reed expresses formal worship, like a reed automatically bending in response to wind. The people sat in sackcloth and ashes, but they did not really mourn over their disobedience to the Lord. They thought their outward fasting, bowing, dressing, and adorning were more important than their attitudes and behavior, though they probably did not realize it and certainly did not admit it, James 1:27 / James 4:8.’
Here we read of an explanation of the kind of fast and service God demanded, Isaiah 58:6. It was inconsistent to legally fast and at the same time be hard on their labourers, Isaiah 58:6, refusing to feed the poor, and even refusing to care for one’s own family, Isaiah 58:7 / Matthew 25:35 / Luke 3:11 / Luke 10:31-32 / Hebrews 13:2.
Archer, in his commentary, says the following.
‘No religious observance has value for Jehovah that is not supported by a godly, law-abiding life, and compassion towards those in need.’
To obtain the blessings of God, Israel must repent and turn back to him, Isaiah 58:8. If they would correct their behaviour in their relationships with their fellow man, then their pleas to the Lord would bring a response Isaiah 58:9. If they would respond to God’s will, God would respond with His presence, Isaiah 58:9.
If they repent of their yoke of oppression, finger pointing and malicious talk, Isaiah 58:9, and repent of their selfishness, then their light will rise in the darkness and their night will become like the noonday, Isaiah 58:10. If they repent, God will guide them and satisfy their every needs and they will be a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail, Isaiah 58:11. Their people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations and they will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings, Isaiah 58:12.
They had made the Sabbath a time to speak of business deals or seeking pleasures of this world, Isaiah 58:13. Instead of focusing on the Lord on the Sabbath rest, they took the opportunity to carry on with business arrangements, Isaiah 58:13.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Again, notice that all-important IF standing at the head of Isaiah 58:13. The multiple requirements are as follows.’
1. That Israel must stop doing ‘their own thing’ on the sabbath day.
2. They must stop teaching and parroting the words of men, their own words, and begin honouring God’s Word.
3. They are commanded to call the sabbath day honourable, and a delight.
4. They must actually honour the sabbath, not merely refer to it as honourable.
5. They must actually do the things God commanded on that day.
If they would turn from such worldly-mindedness on a day that was to be devoted to spiritual thinking, God would turn to them with blessings, Isaiah 58:14.
Our Lord begins by saying ‘when you fast’, not ‘if you fast’, Matthew 6:16. He implies that His disciples will practice fasting, i.e., abstaining from food and perhaps fluids for an extended period of time. The hypocrites in Jesus’ day made sure they looked like they were fasting by purposely neglecting to wash their faces and anoint their heads, Matthew 6:17-18. They wanted to appear miserable so everyone would know what they were ‘enduring’.
Those who fast in this manner are not pleasing the Lord, and they won’t derive any spiritual blessings from such, Matthew 6:16. It is best to conceal our fasting, Matthew 6:17-18, if possible since the act is intended for self-abasement, not the cultivation of pride. Much can be learned about fasting by analysing Bible examples of it. There appear to be both physical and spiritual reasons for fasting. Please reflect upon the following reasons.
1. When a friend or loved one is sick, fasting is appropriate.
David ended up fasting for a week in that context for his child who was ill, 2 Samuel 12:15-16 / Psalm 35:13.
2. When a friend or loved one has died, fasting is appropriate.
At the death of King Saul and his sons, the people fasted, 1 Samuel 31:13.
3. When we desire to seek the Lord and His blessings, fasting is appropriate.
The first reference to fasting is in the Book of Judges, Judges 20:26. The last reference to fasting in the Book of the prophet Zechariah and devout Jews fasted, Zechariah 8:19.
Most of the fasting was undertaken voluntarily and was not undertaken at the command of God but devout Jews undertook to fast for at least two reasons. Not for health reasons, but,
1. Because they believed it was a way of attracting the attention of God. If they fasted, they thought that God noticed them.
2. Because they thought that, if they fasted, God would be prepared to do something about the situation that had caused them to fast.
If you think about this second reason, you will see that if a man thought his fasting had influenced God to act, it was very easy for him to imagine that he, personally, was someone special!
The reality, although, through the centuries, the Jew, especially after the Babylonian Captivity, introduced fasts for a whole range of reasons, but only one fast was specifically commanded by God, and that was the fast associated with the Day of Atonement, the most important and solemn Day in their religious Year, Leviticus 16:29. In Leviticus 16:29, the expression, ‘deny yourselves’ or ‘afflict your souls’ is the expression for fasting, and this was the only fast that the Jews observed faithfully every year.
When we examine the New Testament, it surprises some people to find that the Lord only mentioned fasting twice, Matthew 6:16-18 / Mark 2:18-22. Notice that both passages above, record Jesus’ response to the practice of that time. But also, notice, although about 16 times He says, ‘it was said by those of old time…. but I say to you’, Jesus doesn’t use these words because this kind of fasting about which He was speaking wasn’t covered by the Mosaic Law, but because it was something that the people had taken on themselves in the old law.
In Acts 13:1-3, Luke records that the church in Antioch sent Barnabas and Paul on the First Missionary Journey, with prayer and fasting, they fasted in connection with the appointment of Elders, in the congregations that they established during that journey. Please note that the whole church didn’t fast, it was only those mentioned in Acts 13:1 ‘Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen and Saul.’
In 1 Corinthians 7:1-5, Paul mentions sexual fasting but neither here nor anywhere else, does he impose it as a command. In 2 Corinthians 6:5, and 2 Corinthians 11:27, he refers to what he suffered for the sake of the Gospel and speaks of times when he went without food. But this wasn’t because he was ‘fasting’, but because he had no food to eat!
There are times in life when we are in need of spiritual renewal or special help and guidance. Such times require a deeper focus that fasting can help provide. For example, consider the following, 2 Chronicles 20:1-3 / Esther 4:3 / Esther 4:16 / Acts 10:30 / Acts 13:1-3.
4. When we are grieving over some calamity, fasting is appropriate.
In Ezra 10:6 it is recorded that Ezra ‘ate no bread and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those in captivity.’ Nehemiah 1:2-7 / Daniel 6:18-28.
5. When we are repenting of sin, fasting is appropriate.
Jonah records the penitence of the Ninevites after Jonah preached to them, Jonah 3:5 / Jonah 3:10 / Acts 9:9.
I don’t claim that the items on this list are exhaustive or mutually exclusive, though I do believe they cover the primary reasons why those of old fasted. All of these reasons are still relevant for us today and those seeking to do God’s will should still fast at appropriate times, Matthew 9:14-15. Fasting should be considered an aid to meditation and prayer, Matthew 17:21 / 1 Corinthians 7:5.
However, since the New Testament doesn’t regulate the frequency or duration of fasting, such must be left up to each individual. We have no right to bind or create laws where the Lord has not, but we most certainly should stress the importance of fasting for those who are physically able to participate in such.
The answer to the question, should a Christian fast? is, therefore, ‘yes! If they want to!’ but remember that fasting, like ‘bodily exercise’ may do a little good, but ‘godliness is profitable for all things!’ 1 Timothy 4:8.