David found out his child was very sick and might not survive. To try and save the child’s life, he fasted and prayed, asking for God’s help.
The Lord struck the child whom Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became very ill.
David therefore pleaded with God for the child; David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. (2 Samuel 12:15-17).
David fasted to try to persuade the Lord not to carry out His judgment. By not eating and lying on the ground, he showed humility.
In today’s YouTube video, Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I talk about our different experiences with fasting. I think you’ll find what we learned interesting.
One thing I discovered is how much I focus on myself. When you cut out food, it’s surprising how often you think about eating.
I remember driving by my favorite barbecue place and jokingly thinking, “Lord, could I just put that in a juicer and drink it?”
Another time, my family was heading to McDonald’s while I was making carrot juice. I asked God if there was another way. God’s answer to me was clear: “You’re always looking for an alternative instead of following my directions.”
David’s Response
When the child died, the servants were worried about David’s reaction. He hadn’t eaten while the child was sick, and they feared what he might do to himself. To their surprise, he cleaned up and ate.
Then David rose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the house of the Lord and worshiped; he then went to his own house, and when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.
Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive, but when the child died, you rose and ate food.” (2 Samuel 12:20-21).
Rudy Ross thinks the next verses, which show David’s response to his servants, give us an early picture of life after death.
He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’
But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:22-23).
Reflections
If you’ve never combined fasting with prayer, I recommend giving it a try. It’s best to practice this spiritual discipline well before a crisis arises.
One way I started was by skipping breakfast and lunch for a day, so I didn’t eat from one evening meal to the next.
The human body signals hunger pains, which are just habits around eating. We’re not truly starving or hungry, even after fasting for several days, let alone missing a couple of meals.
During those times of hunger, one of the best things we can do is devote that time to prayer.
Just like my story about God confronting me about my self-centered nature, you might find that fasting and prayer make you more humble than a feeling of being spiritually enlightened.
Yes, God will bring spiritual enlightenment, but often it’s a reminder of how much we need Him.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 