Daniel fasted from desirable foods

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By 536 BC, the exiles had returned to Israel. Daniel saw that a great war was coming. He fasted and prayed for three weeks. This was his second major fasting.

 


 

BIBLE VERSE

 

Daniel 9:3. I [Daniel] set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

 

DISCUSSION

 

three whole weeks. Daniel had a period of dietary restraint for three weeks. This was not a fast, per se. Rather, it was a period of abstaining from desirable foods.

I ate no pleasant bread. As a member of the cabinet of the most powerful ruler on earth, Daniel was entitled to eat the very best of foods.

However, for this specific period of time, he abstained from those choice foods.

neither came meat .. into my mouth. Most people seem to need to eat at least some animal products in order to maintain health.

For this three-week period, though, Daniel abstained from meat.

For most meat-eaters, this would be a very great sacrifice. They would probably feel awful.

neither came … wine into my mouth. Daniel also abstained from alcohol for this three-week period.

neither did I anoint myself at all. Daniel used used no lotions at all. He abstained from skin creams and the like.

How about you? Have you tried fasting from choice foods

 

CAUTION

Fasting and dietary experimentation are only for those who are medically capable. Experts say you need to be under the supervision of a doctor during such times. Check with your health care provider.

 

SEE ALSO

Bible Verses about Fasting. To fast is to abstain from eating. And possibly drinking. Or to follow a restricted diet. It is a wonderful companion during special times in our lives.

 


DANIEL

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12

Deuterocanonical chapters: Song of the Three Children, 13, 14

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, First Fast, Second Fast

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.