1st.: Jehoshaphat, the Moabites, and Fasting
Some kings of Israel were known as good kings, or kings faithful to God.
King Jehoshaphat was one such king.
“And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father [ancestor] David.” (2nd Chr. 17:3).
One, often preached on incident with Jehoshaphat occurred, when certain invaders approached Israel,
“the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
... And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” (2nd Chr. 20:1,3).
When Jehoshaphat heard about the coming Moabite hordes, he called for a nationwide fast,
He may have remembered,
1) The curse made against him, “Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.” (2nd Chr. 19:2).
2) Solomon’s dedication prayer, “When thy people Israel be smitten, because they have sinned.” (1st Kings 8:33a).
3) “Ye shall afflict your souls … to make an atonement.” (Lev. 23:27c-28).
Jehoshaphat realized that he, and Israel, needed to ask the Lord for forgiveness.
God had told the Jews to afflict their souls on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
This afflicting can include, but is not limited to, fasting (denying one’s bodily cravings, e.g. food).
Fasting can be done from pride, which God rebuked in Isaiah 58.
We should note that fasting is not merely skipping meals from shear anxiety (we see this example with the first king of Israel, King Saul).
Nonetheless, fasting can also be done with the motive to subject one’s self to more important matters (e.g. God’s support).
Likewise, we can benefit by including fasting in our repertoire of prayer.
Return to Home“But I discipline my body.” (1st Cor. 9:27a) ESV