{"id":3608,"date":"2013-09-14T07:53:51","date_gmt":"2013-09-14T14:53:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/?p=3608"},"modified":"2013-09-15T12:07:04","modified_gmt":"2013-09-15T19:07:04","slug":"why-do-we-fast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2013\/09\/14\/why-do-we-fast\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing for Yom Kippur (Sept 17) \u2014 Why Do We Fast?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What Is Fasting?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It [the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur<\/i>] is a day to afflict your souls<\/i> (Lev 16:29 and 23:27) or literally \u201cto humble ourselves.\u201d <\/i>The word afflict<\/i> is the Hebrew word anah <\/i>(Strong\u2019s<\/i> H6031) meaning \u201cto oppress with the idea of humility or meekness in mind coupled with the idea of a suffering life rather than with one of worldly happiness and abundance\u201d (The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament<\/i>, vol. 2, p. 682). The JPS Jewish Study Bible <\/i>translates the phrase afflict yourselves <\/i>as \u201cyou shall practice self denial.\u201d <\/i>Although this verse does not specifically mention fasting as a component of Yom Kippur<\/i>, Jewish understanding on the term afflict your souls<\/i> is firm that this refers to fasting (the ArtScroll Tanach Series Vayikra\/Leviticus Commentary<\/i>, p. 404). With this view in mind, the pre-eminent nineteenth-century Orthodox Jewish sage, Samson Raphael Hirch in his commentary translates afflict your souls<\/i> as \u201cstarve your vital spirits\u201d (The Penteteuch-Leviticus,<\/i> p. 678). However, there is a scriptural link to be found between afflicting one\u2019s soul and fasting (i.e., abstaining from food). That link is to be found in Isaiah 58, which some Bible commentators believe is a reference to Yom Kippur<\/i>. In verses three and eight, the terms afflict [one\u2019s] soul<\/i> and fast <\/i>are used synonymously. The word for fast<\/i> is the Hebrew word tsuwm<\/i> (Strong\u2019s <\/i>H6684) meaning \u201cto abstain from food.\u201d <\/i>We also see the connection between fasting<\/i> and afflicting the soul <\/i>in Psalm 35:13 where David states, \u201cI humbled\/afflicted my soul with fasting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Yom<\/a><\/p>\n

Additionally, rabbinical thought teaches that Leviticus 23:27 suggests five afflictions that one must endure on Yom Kippur<\/i>: no eating and drinking, no washing oneself, no anointing oneself, no wearing leather shoes, and no cohabitation. It is suggested that these five afflictions correspond to the five times the term soul\/nephesh <\/i>are found in this passage (i.e., verses once each in 27 and 29, twice in 30, and once in 32; see Baal HaTurim\u2019s commentary on Lev 23:27).<\/p>\n

Christian commentators, Keil and Delitzsch begin to connect the dots for us as to why fasting is tied to atonement. We read,\u00a0<\/p>\n

If the general atonement made on this day was not to pass into a dead formal service, the people must necessarily enter in spirit into the signification of the act of expiation [atonement], prepare their souls for it with penitential feelings, and manifest this penitential state by abstinence from the ordinary enjoyments of life. To afflict (bow, humble) the soul<\/i>, by restraining the earthly appetites, which have their seat in the soul, is the early Mosaic expression for fasting <\/i>(oum\/tsuwm<\/i>) \u2026 \u2018By bowing his soul, the Israelite was to place himself in an inward relation to the sacrifice, whose soul was given for his soul; and by this state of mind, answering to the outward proceedings of the day, he was to appropriate the fruit of it to himself, namely, the reconciliation of his soul, which passed through the animal\u2019s death\u2019 (Baumgarten<\/i>) (vol. 1, p. 591).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Purpose of Fasting<\/strong><\/p>\n

The purpose of fasting is not to torture or punish oneself for the sins that one has committed during the past year. Rather, it is a time to deeply reflect on one\u2019s need for atonement, and to appropriate to oneself through deep heart reflection the sacrifice for one\u2019s sins that YHVH has made for us through Yeshua the Messiah, to whom all the animal sacrifices of the ancient Levitical sacrificial system pointed. This is best accomplished by sublimating or \u201cafflicting the soul\u201d through fasting. The soul is the mind, will and emotions of man.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, in sublimating the soul (man\u2019s carnal mind) within each of us by afflicting it causes the spirit of man within to rise up. To have a deep and vital relationship with YHVH Elohim, the degradation of the soul with its earthly and carnal passions is necessary, since it is the spirit in man that most suffers as a result of the sin-bent tendencies of the soul. In fact, the spirit can even become defiled by the carnal mind or soul of man and need to be cleansed (Heb 9:14; 10:22; 12:23 cp. 1 Tim 4:2). When the soul is \u201cpushed down,\u201d the spirit can rise up and connect to or commune more efficaciously with YHVH. It is the spirit in man, as activated by the Spirit of Elohim, which is man\u2019s spiritual connecting link to his Creator (Rom 8:16; Job 32:8; 1 Cor 2:10\u201314; 1 John 2:20,27; 4:2\u20133; Prov 20:27). In brief, fasting helps us to transcend our physical natures and to focus without distraction upon YHVH.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, Christian commentator, Matthew Henry says of the Day of Atonement,<\/p>\n

He that would do the work of [the] Day of Atonement in its day, as it should be done, had need lay aside the thoughts of everything else.\u2026 [T]hey must lay aside all their worldly business, that they might the more clearly and the more reverently hear that voice of joy and gladness.\u2026 They must mortify the body, and deny the appetites of it, in token of their sorrow for the sins they had committed, and mortifying of their indwelling corruptions. (A Commentary on the Whole Bible<\/i>, by Matthew Henry, p. 539, World Bible Publishers)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

More on Afflicting the Soul<\/strong><\/p>\n

The biblical holy day of the Day of Trumpets (or Shofar Blowing, Shouting; Heb. Yom Teruah<\/i>), which occurs just ten days prior to Yom Kippur<\/i>, is the day of the awakening blast signifying the time for the righteous to awake from spiritual lethargy and lukewarmness and to be ready for the coming of Yeshua, our Bridegroom.<\/p>\n

How do we awaken spiritually?<\/p>\n