"He answered, 'While the baby was alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, "Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let him live." But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I'll go to him, but he will never return to me.'"
2 Samuel 12:22-23
The Lord struck down the child of Bathsheba because of David's evil. During the week of his life, David wept and fasted, not allowing his servants to move him. When the boy died, the king got up and ate. His servants were confused, and David gave the above reply.
Most people don't seem to have a very biblically-sound view of what fasting is. Fasting isn't just a time of refusal to eat. It's a time of repentance and deep grieving. David wasn't just refusing to eat. He spent the whole time praying and begging the Lord to give his son life. He saw the error of his ways, and even though the prophet Nathan had already told him that the Lord had forgiven him, the king came before God with a repentant heart. Once he got God's final answer (a resounding "NO"), his time of fasting was over.
PS - At the end of this chapter, David does go with the rest of Israel's troops to finish the war against the Ammonites. So he recognized what had made all the rest go astray in the first place, and he truly did repent.
Question of the Day:
Have you ever fasted for the wrong reasons or in the wrong way? Have you ever had the true experience of biblical fasting, accompanied by constant prayer and repentance?
Prayer of the Day:
Lord, I come before You knowing already that I have been forgiven, but begging for Your mercy anyway. Your forgiveness is mighty, but I need so much more from You. I can't live this life the way You want me to without Your intervention and strength. Have faith in me, encourage me, and lift me up when I fall. Thank You for fighting beside me and giving me the strength to stand through this life You have given me. Amen.
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