FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES

Sam AwedaTuesday, December 6, 2011
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USA

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THE MYSTERY ABOUT FASTING (20)
--- OUR CONDUCT WHEN FASTING; OLD TESTAMENT PRACTICE COMPARED WITH JESUS'S TEACHING

ow do we conduct ourselves during the fasting period?


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Let us compare how the people in the Old Testament conducted themselves when they fasted and what Jesus taught about how to conduct ourselves when we fast.

At the defeat of Israel by an un-reckoned with, under-rated, and the underdog city of Ai, "Joshua and the elders of Israel, tore their clothing and lay prostate before the Ark of the Lord until evening, with dust on their heads" (Joshua 7:6).

At hearing the news of the death of the first anointed king of Israel, Saul, "David took hold of his clothes, and rent them, likewise all the men that were with him: And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even�.." (2 Sam 1:11-12).

After Prophet Nathan pronounced death for king David's child, gotten from adultery with Bath-Sheba, "David begged God to spare the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the bare earth" (2 Sam. 12-15).

Prophet Daniel pleading earnestly with the Lord God to end their captivity and to send them back to their own land, prayed, fasted, and wore rough sackcloth and sprinkled himself with ashes�".(Daniel 9:3)

After Prophet Elijah pronounced judgements on the one time evil king of Israel, Ahab, after he (Ahab) murdered Naboth and later acquired Naboth's vineyard, he tore his clothing, put on rags, fasted, slept in sackcloth, and went about in deep humility" (1 Kings 21:27).

When Daniel was seeking understanding to the vision he saw about events which were to happen in future, he himself reported: "All that time I tasted neither wine nor meat, and of course I went without desserts. I neither washed nor shaved nor combed my hair" (Daniel 10:2-3).

These references should be sufficient to give us an insight or imagination of what form, fasting took, in the Old Testament; how the people in the Old Testament, conducted themselves when they fasted.

However, are these the behaviour God was interested in or approved?

Let us hear what God Himself said through the mouth of prophet Isaiah.

"We have fasted, they say, and Thou seest not (not impressed)? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?" (Isaiah 58:3).

God responded "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? Is this what I want- this doing of penance and bowing like reeds in the wind and putting on sack cloth and covering yourselves with ashes? Is this what you call fasting?" (Isaiah 58:5).

It is unfortunate that such practices continued until Christ came onto the scene and very unfortunately till today in certain quarters.

In the days of Jesus on earth, the fasting Pharisees, disfigured their faces, put up a sad countenance, looked wan and dishevelled in order to draw peoples' attention to it that they were fasting (Matt 6:16).

Even today, there are still those who when they are fasting, it is easy to know it. On such days when they fast, they go about in dirty, ruffled (rumpled, un-ironed) clothes; some go to the extreme of wearing almost ragged clothes.

Some do not clean their teeth - thus making themselves a nuisance everywhere they visit with the foul smell oozing from their mouth.

Some do not bathe, or if they bathe, they leave their hair uncombed.

Some abandon their beds and chairs; sleep and sit on the bare floor.

Many get to the Church and sit on bare floor.

These practices are the kinds, which Apostle Paul described as: "Will worship, humiliating and neglecting of the body, which only make them proud but have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires (Col 2:23).

Certainly, the people of the Old Testament who engaged in those practices ordained it by themselves. It was not the way God designed fasting.

What has Jesus got to say about our conduct when we fast?

Let us turn to His Sermon on the Mount as recorded by St Matthew chapter 6:

"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face - put on festive clothes, so that no one will suspect you are hungry, except your Father who knows every secret. And He will reward you (vs 16-18).

The Lord warned that we don't conduct our fast as the hypocrites, who try to look wan and disheveled so that people will feel sorry for them.

Even at a congregational fast or fasting conference, all participants must keep themselves clean; and must not behave in any funny way.

Sam Aweda is President & Snr. Pastor, Jesus for the World Revival Mission (Peoples' Church)

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