So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then the word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. Jonah 3:5, 6. NKJV.
Fast, tsom, Strong’s # 6685: A fast; a day of fasting; a time set aside to mourn or pray with no provision for one’s normal food needs. Fasting is a voluntary denial of food. In the OT, the verb “fast” is sometimes coupled with the words “weep,” “mourn,” “lay in sackcloth,” all expressing intensity.
Fasting is an action contrary to that first act of sin in the human race, which was eating what was forbidden. Fasting is refusing to eat what is allowed. Compare Daniel 1:8-16; 9:3-23; Joel 2:12-19.
America could use some leadership similar to Nineveh’s. The pagan nation of Assyria received a message from a prophet of God; but it was not a prophetic message, it was the story of a nation that received a message from the Holy Spirit through a prophet and the conviction of God that brought about the repentance of a nation.
Imagine our entire nation feeling the conviction of God, people repenting and receiving God’s message of judgment which always has the intent of repentance and reconciliation. Nineveh’s repentance releases God’s mercy. We are talking about an entire nation and a pagan one at that. It would seem that it may be time to lose our Toga robes for a little sackcloth.
