Fasting is a form of humbleness in request for something to happen. Some people fast for a revenging cause such as when the religious people wanted to kill the Apostle Paul and they ate not until they succeeded; which did not happen (Acts23:12). The purpose of fasting as outlined by Isaiah is for the purpose of loosening the captives “7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”(Is58:7). Fasting is also purposed for repentance, to show remorse and and a request for mercy. Most of us pray when hard times come or when we have needs, and others they pray all the time for any and no reason. But, when we really want God to move and work on our behalf we need to fast. Now, God is not obligated to move or work on ones behalf because we pray or fast, he does so because he loves us; Fasting just nodges God.
Joel 2:15-19 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?18 Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.19 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
God’s people fell into this stage of doing things that weren’t very pleasing unto God, so He sent them a plaque of locusts. The locust ate and destroyed the land, they were as this heavily armed army with one mission, and that was to destroy. Like those seasons in our lives where everything seems to be going all wrong; no matter which direction one turns it is bad, kind of like the locust which were unstoppable. The prophet Joel calls the people to blow the trumpet and fast to see if they would obtain mercy from God and seize the plaque. He calls everyone even those with the most important tasks to come out and fast. God was not going to stop the locust just because, this people needed a lesson. But, one thing that God hates is, to hear the forbidden question “Where is their God?”from our enemies.
Every person alive needs to know that God has a people and that he can easily be found of them’ he has not forsaken them (ps37:28-29). And, his priest and ministers reminded him that no one should have the right to question God’s place on our lives. That is why God responded when the mentioned the forbidden question “Where is their God?” and he said that he would send the corn, the wine and the oil (Jl2:19). David was concerned with others questioning God’s place in his live when he was going through a very difficult time, but he found it deep inside to keep his faith in God (ps.42:10-11).