What is a 'Daniel fast'?
Daniel 8:1 - 14
ESV - 1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. 2 And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the capital, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The concept of a Daniel fast comes from Daniel 1:8-14, "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself ...
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Gary Patton
Supporter
Following are my reflections on fasting in the context of healing and wellness. I believe that God's heart for us is not just that we be healed in Jesus (Isaiah 53:4-5), but that we never get diseased from chronic infestations. (Isaiah 46:4 & 3 John 1:2) Healing and wellness are a holistic, total lifestyle issue. Fasting, and other practises, can be health-promoting aspects of God's promised wellness for all people …not just for Jesus Followers… because the activities that promote wellness are part of "God's Natural Law", like gravity. I call Isaiah 46:4, the "biblical, wellness hope", particularly for all Seniors" whom are true Jesus Followers, only. It complements the promise of 3 John 1:2 for the same group of all ages! I love the new VOICE translation of Isaiah 46:4: "And when you are old, I will still be there, carrying you. When your limbs grow tired, your eyes are weak, and your hair a silvery gray, I will carry you as I always have. I will carry you and save you." Following our separate, near-death experiences at the same time, my wife, Karen, and I have been raw food, or live food, vegans for over 15 years. There is a well-known example of live food veganism, plus it's positive effects, in the Bible. Some Christians mistakenly call it the "Daniel Fast". Correctly, it should be called the "Daniel Lifestyle" because it only involves fasting from one food group, ever. The concept of the so-called Daniel Fast is outlined in the Old Covenant of the Christian Bible in the Book of Daniel 1:8-14. The story's background is that Daniel and three of his friends had been deported to Babylon from Israel. This happened about BC600 when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah. (2 Kings 24:13-14) Daniel and his three friends were put into a key servant "training program" in the Babylonian King's Court. Part of the program was learning Babylonian culture, laws, and practices. The eating habits of the Babylonians were not in agreement with the Israelite Mosaic Law. As a result, Daniel asked if he and his three friends could be excused from eating meat. It was likely sacrificed, first, to the demon idols and gods of the Babylonians …a practise that was abhorrent to Hebrews. The so-called Daniel Fast is eating only fruits, vegetables seeds, nuts, and grains …uncooked whenever possible... for a limited amount of time while abstaining from dead animal products and their by-products. Some Christian raw food vegans believe that the live food and meat byproduct requirements of Daniel fasting are implied by the Old Covenant story and its context. Some people, like Karen and I follow the 'pure' Daniel Lifestyle as a wellness enhancement “Eating Plan". It's NOT a diet approach any more than a real fast. However, some Christians use our type of Eating Plan as a minimalist fast …instead of totally fasting from all food and non-water drinks. They also normally ignore the non-cooking component. We agree that the New Covenant of the Bible nowhere commands true Jesus Followers to observe any stipulated Eating Plan, or even fasting for religious reasons. This issue is a matter of freedom in following Jesus. (Galatians 5:1) Our Eating Plan is part of our overall, enhanced health and wellness lifestyle. We follow it, plus the related healing and wellness aspects of what we call our S-M-A-R- Lifestyle™, only because it is the perfect diet stipulated by our Creator for His perfect creation in Genesis 1:29. We don't cook our food because there is no evidence of cooking or any variation from God's "Genesis 1:29 Diet" until after the flood during which "all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven... and the mountains were covered!" (Genesis 7:19-20) The Flood was a very long time after creation. According to the suggested timelines in the interesting article at https://goo.gl/4JNRmx, God flooded the whole earth, not a region, about BC 1650. Please note, during that extended period, Scripture also documents people as living extremely long, over 100 years, lives. You can discover some information about Karen's and my healing miracles, plus our Daniel-type Lifestyle, on our personal, Google Website at http://sites.google.com/a/pattonassociates.ca/3-john-2/. Blessings all!
Bryan Naidoo
Supporter
No where in the Bible there is any mention of a Daniel fast. The book of Daniel does not mention anything of a fast. I think this is important for the church of Christ to understand. Daniel :1:8 tells us Daniel did not want to defile himself by eating meat from the kings chambers. The reason Daniel did not want to eat that meat because he did not want a take a chance by defiling himself by eating meat offered to Idols, also the Jews were not permitted to all types of meat. So to keep Gods moral and spiritual laws Daniel refuse to eat what was offered to him. The church also uses Daniel’s twenty one day waiting found in chapter Ten as a fast. Daniel did not purpose a fast like Esther, Nehemiah, Ezra, Moses or even Jesus. Daniel simply waited on the lord for the answer and decided not to eat or during during his wait. Regarding the above the bible tells us that God had already sent the answer regarding his prayer on the first day. Daniels waiting was just because of satanic interference. Fasting has to do with enhancing Gods will on earth, not man’s will. Many use these passages of scripture to fast for personal benefit. All the fasts mentioned in the Bible was done to seek Gods mercy for the the nation of Israel, his people. The only place fasting is commanded is found in the book of Levitucus :23:27....regarding the Day of Atonement.
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