Let us look into the teaching of fasting from this major prophetic book, from the writer Isaiah who had seen God and got purified to serve God with clean words:

We want clean Godly words.

Isaiah Ch58 vv 3-6:

Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. - KJV

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. � KJV

It is not even a matter of trying to get attention from God.

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? - KJV

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?-KJV

Here, we have the definition and reasoning of Fasting.

3

'Why have we (Mal 3:14; Luke 18:12) fasted and You do not see?

Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?'

Behold, on the (Is 22:12, 13; Zech 7:5, 6) day of your fast you find your desire,

And drive hard all your workers. - NASV

You do not see our fasting, like yourselves or others; because (of Isa58v4 the following verse) we do not seek approval from/of men. We just/only seek approval and response from Jehovah God.

These competitors have their joy, fulfilment, in showing off their fasting. They gained approval of men, those similar to themselves. They were not seeking God.

On the other hand, they oppress their servants and slaves to do what production they missed out in their fasting/donation.

4

"Behold, you fast for contention and (Is 3:14, 15; 59:6) strife and to strike with a wicked fist.

You do not fast like you do today to (Is 1:15; 59:2; Joel 2:12-14) make your voice heard on high.

Some people just abstain from something for competition, seeking approval from others, and seek to disturb, topple systems and trusts and to hurt.

These forgot that the purpose of fasting is to get ones call heard on high by God.

"Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself?

Is it for bowing one's head like a reed

And for spreading out (1 Kin 21:27) sackcloth and ashes as a bed?

Will you call this a fast, even an (Is 49:8; 61:2) acceptable day to the LORD? - NASV

God is asking us. He wants us to think/consider.

In fasting, we do not seek a way to humble ourselves excessively before God Almighty.

6

"Is this not the fast which I choose,

To (Neh 5:10-12; Jer 34:8) loosen the bonds of wickedness,

And (Is 58:9) break every yoke? - NASV

God chooses a different perspective, way, action, definition to fasting.

There are different kinds of fasting. But this is the fasting pleasing to God.

Fasting is not just to loosen the bonds on us, our dependency to pleasure, good and choiced food; but also to break the bonds of all wickedness (such as the state of poverty your kinsmen are in, their lack of opportunity to meet and serve God. The curses on them.)

Fasting is opposite to fattening(growing/adding to sin). It is the removal of wickedness. The removal of excess of burden. Only certain bands to a yoke. So, remove the extra bands of the yoke.

We need just so much to eat and drink for joyful living. Removing the excesses is fasting. Hold back from gluttony and greed. Hold back from undue burden.

Willing slaves may stay. Loving servants may stay. But the oppressed ones we set free if it is within our jurisdiction(not excess power in our part).

Remove the yoke. Be free in Jesus Christ. Preaching the Gospel is fasting. Witnessing for Christ is fasting. Initiating the Altar Call, calling for the people of God(the bonded slaves), and setting them free in the Name of Jesus Christ. For this is action in breaking yokes.

Not just visiting the sick and the imprisoned, but to bring them Good News, opportunities for repentance, and consolation and comfort at the same time. Make whole the broken relationship between God and men.

Blessed are the Peace Makers, the meek, those who mourn(intercession, identify oneself with those who we once were like, share with their plight), the merciful, the seekers(also seek out goodness for others), and the righteous(who have faith. So, those with faith can move mountains).

7

"Is it not to (Job 31:19, 20; Is 58:10; Ezek 18:7, 16) divide your bread with the hungry

And (Is 16:3, 4; Heb 13:2) bring the homeless poor into the house;

When you see the (Matt 25:35, 36; Luke 3:11) naked, to cover him;

And not to (Deut 22:1-4; Luke 10:31, 32) hide yourself from your own flesh? - NASV

To do good to the needy. Break the bondage of curse and sin and lacking. Show mercies and compassion.

God is full of compassion and longsuffering. Give the hungry bread and the homeless shelters. Meet their immediate need(but not to be cheated or exploit by them, and keep giving in to demands). This is part of intercession(identifying oneself with ones own people, race, place, and land). Care for the sins of the people. Repaire the damage and hurt caused by sin. Covering the naked for God/Christ. He is your own flesh. Do not shrink from helping yourselves.

Isaiah 58:

8

"Then your (20) light will break out like the dawn,

And your (21) recovery will speedily spring forth;

And your (22) righteousness will go before you;

The glory of the (23) LORD will be your rear guard. - NASV

Do the right things, seek first the kingdom of God; and goodness will come from on high.

God will protect you and glory you after your work.

9

"Then you will (Ps 50:15; Is 55:6; 65:24) call, and the LORD will answer;

You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'

If you (Is 58:6) remove the yoke from your midst,

The (Prov 6:13) pointing of the finger and (Ps 12:2; Is 59:13

) speaking wickedness, - NASV

Be the kind and loving person the Lord favors, and God will answer our needs.

You will ready the help of the Lord. Be like God.

Show your compassion. Show positive action. Make peace and remove strife. Remove foul words.

Good things follow a pattern. They flow like rivers of grace.

10

And if you (Deut 15:7; Is 58:7) give yourself to the hungry

And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

Then your (Job 11:17; Ps 37:6; Is 42:16; 58:8) light will rise in darkness

And your gloom will become like midday. - NASV

Attend those who need attention.

God will help your help. You will be seen as great amongst sons of darkness.

You will shine with God.

11

"And the (Is 49:10; 57:18) LORD will continually guide you,

And (Ps 107:9; Is 41:17) satisfy your desire in scorched places,

And (Is 66:14) give strength to your bones;

And you will be like a (Song 4:15; Is 27:3; Jer 31:12) watered garden,

And like a (John 4:14; 7:38) spring of water whose waters do not fail. - NASV

The Lord God is not mean. He does not repay you once for each fasting. He will continually guide you.

He will come to your aid when you are lacking and in need. God is asking you to do what He does Himself. He is not demanding too much.

He will share sufficiency with you.

God is the river of living water, and the sons of God who help others like God the Father, will be like spring of water.

12

"Those from among you will (Is 49:8; 61:4; Ezek 36:10) rebuild the ancient ruins;

You will (Is 44:28) raise up the age-old foundations;

And you will be called the repairer of the (Is 30:13; Amos 9:11) breach,

The restorer of the streets in which to dwell. - NASV

You will be a good example to others.

You will be building on "The Rock" which is Christ.

Those who are lacking are breaches. By helping them(our kinsmen, our neighbours) we repair the breaches of our own kind. We repair the harm caused by sin. We bring JOY.

We restore honour to the Holy Name of God and His people.

We seek from His provision which is His Word, and find out the reason for fasting.

We will be able to shame evil spirits and cast them out if we have the track record of doing good in love/compassion, for God. We prove ourselves to be workers of good.