Day 32 - 1 Samuel 7:6

A Fasted Journey for Spiritual Renewal

Day 32

“So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.” -1 Samuel 7:6

Again we see the linkage between repentance, deep remorse and fasting. Hopefully, those common threads are beyond clear to anyone who has been following along at this point. How did the people come to the realization that had sinned against the Lord? In part, it was because they were open to being humbled. Is that something that we are open to on an individual level? I hope so. What about on a broader, national level? Doesn’t seem like it. Nonetheless, that shouldn’t hinder us from doing what is right; including repenting on behalf of our nation.

But what did the people do that required such deep remorse? They had turned away from the one true God. They were worshipping false gods, something they had been commanded not to do numerous times before (and as commanded time and time again later in both the Old and New Testaments). The starkest example of this is in the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Such a simple command, yet as the people showed back then and as we continue to show no, not easy.

What are some of the false gods in your life? Money, career, fame, glory, possessions, politicians, physical appearance, sex, drunkenness all come to mind. Certainly there are others. What we see again here is true repentance on behalf of the people of Israel. They had fallen into decades long apostasy. That led to oppression. Sounds like the cycle we are in today, and not just in America, but by and large across the earth. The apostasy and oppression in part led to this true repentance and soon deliverance from the Philistines.

The crucial part here isn’t the fast or the outward expression that the people recognized that the had been living in sin against God. It is the true condition of the heart. That true repentant condition is what led the people to fast, not the other way around. The religious ritual that they all participated in isn’t what saved them or turned them back to God. It was the truly repentant, collective heart that led the people to want to participate in the fast. God knows the heart and isn’t reliant on our physical actions.

The Pharisee from Day 5 comes to mind. Off by himself he prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” The Pharisee had it backwards here. His own self-righteousness was his downfall. The people of Israel here in 1 Samuel were humbled because of their sin, not blinded by it like the Pharisee in his pride.

I am not a medical professional. This journal is about my spiritual path and about that which the Lord has placed on me. This is not medical advice, nor was this fast done for any medical purpose. If you have a medical interest, seek medical advice. If you have particular health concerns, seek medical advice and/or conduct your own research. Any fasting advice, effects, realizations or anything else related to my fast come from my personal reflection and experience. If you are considering fasting, consulting with a healthcare provider may be appropriate for you.