Daniel 10:2-8

Fasting.

The exercise of fasting seems to grow out of natural spiritual instincts, as it is found in nearly all religions, and is not forbidden but recognized and regulated in the teaching of Christ and his apostles ( Luke 5:35 ; Acts 13:2 , Acts 13:3 ; Acts 14:23 ). It is, however, an exercise which is surrounded with erroneous ideas, and which needs to be cleared of them before it can be admitted as healthy and profitable. Let us notice—

I. SOME ABUSES OF THE EXERCISE OF FASTING .

1 . Ostentatious fasting. Such was the vulgar fasting of the Pharisees Ostentation in regard to an expression of deep spiritual feelings tends to destroy those very feelings. The study of "effect" and anxiety about the good opinion of men directly counteracts the influence of those emotions of spiritual grief and shame before God which fasting is supposed to express. Thus ostentatious lasting becomes hypocritical ( Matthew 6:16 ).

2 . Formal fasting. Fasting which implies no real self-denial, though certain rules of abstinence are observed, is a mockery, and, if it is relied on for religions efficacy, a superstitious rite. It is then only a bodily exercise, and can have no spiritual force ( 1 Timothy 4:8 ).

3 . Meritorious fasting.

4 . Holiness in fasting. There is a foolish conceit with some people that fasting is more holy than natural living. But Christ teaches us that nature is holy and that joy is holy. Holiness does not imply abstinence, but purity and temperance.

II. THE RIGHT EXERCISE OF FASTING .

1 . Involuntary fasting. Strong emotion destroys natural bodily appetite. Sorrow, especially, has this purely physical effect. Thus fasting is often a natural result of certain religious emotions. There is a sense of harmony which makes lawful worldily pleasures distasteful at a season of spiritual darkness. At such times fasting is exercised by instinct. Daniel was in sorrow; therefore he fasted.

2 . Fasting to assist repentance. This is not undertaken to win merit with God, but simply for its effect on our own souls. The feeling of repentance is often too ephemeral. It is soon counteracted by the influx of other influences from the world without. Yet there are times when a man becomes convinced of some great sin. He may then find his compunction deepened and his repentance strengthened if for a season he abstains from lawful bodily comforts.

3 . Fasting to assist spiritual thought. This cannot be enforced as a duty nor recommended for universal practice. But experience teaches that there are persons whose spiritual perceptions are quickened while their bodily nature is restrained. For all of us the full indulgence of appetite—even when this does not lead to what is called excess—deadens the spiritual energies.

4 . Mental fasting. It is sometimes well to abstain from active thinking, from the assertion of our own inclinations and reasonings, and to become passive recipients of truth, as it is borne in to the mind by the influences of nature and the active communings of the Divine Spirit ( Zechariah 2:13 ).