Biblical Answers To All Your Daniel’s Fast Questions!
I bet many Christians are searching the Internet for the Daniel Fast material and they are flabbergasted that they can’t find anything!
The purpose of this Daniel’s Fast Guide is to answer all your questions regarding this much-confused event.
However, the answers concerning it will wholly be biblical and not opinions.
Many new Christians are confused about the truth of it.
And far more of the older ones are misinformed concerning what the Bible teaches about it.
Nevertheless, by identifying a few important features of his fasting we will eliminate any confusing or unrelated events.
Table of Contents – The Daniel’s Fast
When Did Daniel Fast?
If we are discussing what Daniel did as described in Daniel Chapter Ten, then we would talk about his 21-days of fasting, (Daniel 10:1-3).
However, if we are exploring the events of Daniel Chapter One verses one through twenty-one, then that’s not fasting (Daniel 1:1-21).
In them, Daniel did not fast! And any interpretations of those events, in said scriptures, describing them as Daniel’s fasting are unbiblical!
Who In The Bible Does A Partial Fast?
There is no partial fasting in the Holy Bible. So, to say or hint that Daniel did one, in Daniel Chapter One, is deceitful and constitutes an obvious manipulation of scriptures where biblical fasting is concerned.
Fasting, according to the Bible and including the Daniel Fast, is a mutually exclusive event.
Therefore, you are either Daniel Mourning or not. You are either fasting or not.
There is no partial fast. Because we cannot, according to the Word of God, be fasting and eating or drinking simultaneously.
It’s one or the other, but not both events together.
Where Did Daniel Fast?
If when you speak of the Daniel Fast, you are referring to his time in captivity in King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, then he wasn’t fasting.
The Bible explains his only significant fasting, in great detail, only in The Book of Daniel Chapter Ten verses one through three (Daniel 10:1-3).
Why Did He Fast?
Additionally, the motivation for Daniel’s 21 days of fasting is different from the other events that many Christians confused with his actual fasting.
In Daniel Chapter One, Daniel never fasted! He requested a change of menu. So, how could Christians teach that a change of diet is fasting?
This teaching is contrary to the Bible and therefore diabolical!
Are These The Daniel Fast Scripture?
According to the Bible,
“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it” (Daniel 1:1).
So, the Lord gave Jehoiakim the king of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
“And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.” (Daniel 1:2).
The Lord also gave Nebuchadnezzar some of the utensils of the House of God.
Those he carried away into his country and placed them into the house of his god.
The King’s Request!
Now, back in Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar made a peculiar request of the Master of his Eunuchs, Ashpenaz.
“And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the prince.”
Daniel 1:3
The king desired that “certain of the children of Israel” and of the royal family of Jehoiakim, King of Judah, “and of the prince” “stand in the king’s palace” and be taught the language of the Chaldeans.
However, the chosen people should meet specific rigid criteria.
He emphasized that these,
“Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.”
Daniel 1:4
No! None of these scripture verses refers to fasting!
What Do You Eat On The Daniel’s Fast?
Nevertheless, King Nebuchadnezzar also maintained that these chosen people must not only be clever but be attractive and pleasing to the eyes.
He had a plan. He would nourish them–with his food and drink–for three years then examine them to see if they were visually pleasing to him.
Consequently, he “appointed” a menu for them.
“And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.”
Daniel 1:5
Note, in the verse-of-scripture immediately above that the description doesn’t describe any fasting.
It doesn’t describe the so-called Daniel Fast or any other fast.
It explains a menu! Or a diet!
King Nebuchadnezzar empathized that the chosen people be nourished for “three years” then be brought before him.
Who fasts for three years?
How could “nourishing” be mistaken for fasting?
Christians do not eat while fasting!
Who Were The People Involved In The Daniel Fast?
The eunuch in charge of them and Daniel and his two other countrymen! Four people were involved in this so-called Daniel’s Fast!
“Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.”
Daniel 1:6
To make life easier for himself Ashpenaz went ahead and renamed some of the Children of Judah namely Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
ASHPENAZ BOLD MOVE!
“Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; ... to Hananiah, of Shadrach; ... to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.”
Daniel 1:7
Therefore, from this point onwards, Daniel is Belteshazzar; Hananiah is Shadrach; Mishael is Meshach, and Azariah is Abednego!
What Is The Daniel Fast In The Bible?
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
Daniel 1:8
Daniel was Jewish. His diet was set and determined by God. Therefore, King Nebuchadnezzar’s menu for them violated Jewish dietary guidelines.
Consequently, Daniel wouldn’t eat his food and drink his wine because they would “defile” him because they were contrary to the Jewish culinary traditions.
How could anyone confuse Daniel one verse eight, (Daniel 1:8), above with Daniel’s Fast of Daniel 10:1-3?
That was the only time he fasted. That was the only Daniel’s Fast!
Is your decision not to eat or drink from a particular neighbor your decision to fast?
No!!
How Is Eating The Same As Fasting?
Daniel didn’t even fast according to Daniel 1:1-21!
He decided, that I would not eat or drink the King’s food and wine respectively but I would eat and drink something else.
So, he rejected King Nebuchadnezzar’s stuff for something else.
How is that fasting?
The detail laid out in Daniel Chapter One is not fasting! It’s not Daniel Mourning nor any other fasting and it is not in the Bible!
I don’t know why anyone would call eating and drinking fasting!
However, the good Lord God was guiding the friendship between Daniel and Ashpenaz.
“Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.”
Daniel 1:9
How Is A Request For A Change Of Food And Drink Fasting?
So, Ashpenaz heard Daniel’s request and thought about it, then he responded to him.
He says,
“… I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort[,] then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king[?]”Daniel 1:10
Thus, Aspenaz explained to Daniel that he feared for his life. His concern was, if Daniel and his countrymen looked leaner than the other Jews, King Nebuchadnezzar may behead him.
Thinking that he had not nourished them adequately!
However, Daniel was determined not to defile himself with the King’s food and wine.
Therefore, seeing Aspenhaz was afraid to grant his request, Daniel turned to Melzar.
“Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah”.Daniel 1:11
Daniel’s request for a change in the menu can never be the Daniel Fast.
How Is This Daniel Fast In The Bible?
Listen, as Daniel challenged Melzar. He dared him! He challenged Melzar!
“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink”.Daniel 1:12
How is the eating of pulse and the drinking of water fasting?
Who in the Holy Bible ever ate or drank anything while fasting?
No one!
This request wasn’t a Daniel Mourning then and it’s not one now!
But Daniel didn’t stop with just the request for he expounded on how it could be executed.
He instructed Melzar, after ten days of eating pulse and drinking water (not fasting), then, compare our features with the others, then makes a decision.
“Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.”Daniel 1:13
Are These Daniel Fast Bible Verses?
This sounded fair to Melzar, so he accepted Daniel’s proposal!
“So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.”Daniel 1:14
As Daniel had hoped at the end of the trial, the Children of Judah looked better than all the others.
“And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.”Daniel 1:15
Subsequently, Melzar agreed to Daniel’s request not to eat the king’s food and drink his wine respectively.
“Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.”Daniel 1:16
Question?
Are these preceding scripture verses, Daniel Fast Bible verses?
No!
Not one.
So how is it that so many “Christians” are using them to teach about the Daniel Fast?
“As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”Daniel 1:17
What Next – The Daniel Fast Prayer?
Thus, the Lord blessed them in special ways.
Not only were their physical appearances better and more pleasing to King Nebuchadnezzar, but they were also very astute.
“Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.”Daniel 1:18
“And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.”Daniel 1:19
They were not just better but they were the very best in all his kingdom.
“And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”Daniel 1:20
When the Lord blesses you it’s never for one season. His blessings extend well beyond the present!
“And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.”Daniel 1:21
No! None of the scripture verses mentioned above constitutes fasting! None!
What Is A Biblical Synonym For Fasting?
In the Scriptures, whenever a person was fasting the Bible would describe such a time as a time of mourning.
Here are five instances of fasting that are equivalent to mourning:
- “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning” (Joel 2:12).
- “… In every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; … many lay in sackcloth and ashes” (Esther 4:3).
- “… They mourned, … wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, … for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, … for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword” (2 Samuel 1:12).
- And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4).
- “Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?” (Zechariah 7:5).
Daniel Ate No Pleasant Bread
As a result, when Daniel declared that he “was mourning three full weeks” he simply means that he was fasting for the said duration (Daniel 10:2).
Additionally, he informs us that his was a total abstinence fasting. Why? The Jewish people, even up to today, do not practice partial fasting.
There is no such contradiction in any place in Christendom or in Judaism!
This is a fabrication of the world that unlearn spiritual babes are attempting to import into the Church!
Subsequently, when he explains that,
“I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”Daniel 10:3
This doesn’t mean that Daniel ate unpleasant bread. Lol!
He merely was telling us that he ate or drank nothing!
This statement is in perfect alignment with Jesus’ doctrine concerning fasting as in Matthew 6:16-18.
CONCLUSION
IS THE DANIEL FAST BIBLICAL?
Let’s not interpret the Holy Bible! Instead, allow it to explain itself for it does. Never assume anything about the Scriptures.
They should inform us whether Daniel fasted or not. If the Bible told us that Daniel ate, why should we say he fasted?
The teachings that Daniel fasted according to Daniel Chapter One verses one through twenty-one, is unbiblical (Daniel 1:1-21).
That was not fasting! He never fasted in those scriptures!
It is a prime example of false teachings which are contrary to the Holy Bible.
Reject them!
THE DANIEL FAST MEANING?
The Holy Bible captures Daniel only fasting in The Book of Daniel Chapter Ten verses one to three (Daniel 10:1-3).
That is the only record of the Daniel Fast!
It lasted for three full weeks.
IS DANIEL FAST A PARTIAL FAST?
The Holy Bible doesn’t teach partial fasting. Therefore, neither Daniel nor any other person, in it, conducts such fasting.
Partial fasting is contradictory because fasting according to the Bible, is a mutually exclusive event.
It’s one or the other. You are either eating and drinking or you are not, that is fasting.
Fasting is never eating and drinking or eating or drinking.
Nobody in the Scriptures conducts such practices.
Fasting is total abstinence! No eating or drinking. A blog post on “The Prayer Relay Movement” describes fasting as a sacrifice.
In closing, the world could fast however it chooses. But the Church of the living God fasts only according to the dictates of the Word of God.
Reject the Daniel Fast! It’s an unbiblical, blatant, and deliberate manipulation of scriptures taught by spiritual babies!
