Fasting and Praying

July 21, 2013 Background Scripture: Ezra 7:1 – 8:23 Lesson Passage: Ezra 7:6 – 10; 8:21 – 23 Today’s lesson affords us the opportunity to take a close look at fasting and praying as a way to achieve specific results. We often see fasting and praying used by some of the most devout followers of God who are presented to us in the Old Testament writings. It is also used by some in the New Testament as well. Jesus talked about fasting and praying. He taught that it should not be used as an outward expression before others but done discretely or in secret. Jesus also taught that some miraculous works such as casting out demons cannot be done except by fasting and praying. It is difficult for any serious student of the bible to avoid seeing the references in the bible that point out the vital importance of fasting and praying. Ezra helps us to understand “the what” and “the why” associated with fasting and praying. He refers to it as a self-imposed affliction. When we fast and pray, we temporarily deny our bodies those substances needed to sustain it that we may present our souls and spirits before the Lord. Those substances may include food and/or drink. For example, the gospel writer tells us that Jesus fasted for forty days and nights and neither ate nor drank. This is very severe affliction of the body. Not only is this physical affliction but it also represents emotional humility to deny oneself that which is craved and necessary to sustain physical life. With the flesh under such subjection, one is freed to seek God more deeply on a spiritual level. Again it should be emphasized that fasting should only be done on a temporary basis. (One should also be careful about fasting if you are under the care of a medical doctor. In such cases, your physician should be consulted prior to afflicting one’s body.) That is “the what” of fasting and praying. Now let us consider “the why”. Ezra called for the group he was leading on a four month trip from Babylon to Palestine to fast and pray prior to their departure. The desire was for safe passage knowing that some of the areas they would travel through was inhabited by people that could pose a threat to them—especially the most vulnerable ones such as the elderly and the children. They were also concerned about losing their substance—especially that which was intended for the temple. Although praying before embarking on the journey was a good practice, Ezra found it necessary even more so because he was too ashamed to ask the king to send a military escort along with them. Ezra had been bragging to the king about the protection that God provides for His people. How could he turn around and ask the king for a security detail just in case God would not protect them? No doubt the need for protection was great but the need to show unbelievers the sustaining power of God towards those who trust Him was even greater. Ezra was not going to “name it and claim it” nor was he going to take God for granted being that they had such a great need. Instead, they chose to humble themselves and honor God and make their petitions known to Him. They fasted and prayed and the bible says they got the results they desired. Robert C. Hudson July 1, 2013