Daniel was not fasting in Daniel 1:8 – 17.
“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.“
God gave commandment to Moses concerning what meats were lawful, and what meats the children of Israel should abstain from. To eat these meats would defile the children of Israel and make them unclean (defiled) to walk before the Lord.
Daniel requests a different diet.
“Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 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.“
God honored Daniels’ faithfulness in not defiling himself with the Kings meat, which was of course not lawful for a Jew to eat in the first place, because it included meats that the Lord had commanded the Jews to abstain from. Daniel’s pulse consisted of fruits, seeds, legumes, grains, and nuts. However, Daniel did eat.
This Daniel Fast that the body of Christ has gravitated to is a false fast and has only proven to fill the bellies of those who participate in it. Lest they should really fast and be converted, and God should heal them.
Some even order pizza because it is often made with wheat flower, and have been deceived that because they only order cheese with it that they are still in compliance. However, cheese is made from milk which is an animal byproduct, and should be omitted from fasting.
A fast is a complete abstaining of foods of all kinds. In some instances it is recorded in the Old Testament that only water was permitted. Seek God in fasting with prayer and abstain from fleshly desires, and deceitful intentions. You will be much better off.
Here the Word of the Lord:
“Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 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? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isa. 58:5-14)
Enough Said.
