Nehemiah 9:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The devotion exhibited by the people who underwent transformation after their exile is truly noteworthy. Once they had observed the festival mandated by God’s law, they came together spontaneously the very next day after a time of fasting and repentance. They eagerly embraced all that they had been taught, celebrating during the appointed times of sacred reading. They understood the necessity of distancing themselves, both mentally and physically, from those who had turned away from the Lord and failed to honor Him. They recognized that associating with wicked individuals and following their lead could lead them back into the troubles of captivity and misfortune, which they had managed to avoid for so long.

Merely refraining from food and drink does not constitute true fasting; such abstinence may often be essential for physical healing. Moreover, we cannot define it as fasting when one consumes nothing at all, as that reflects hunger rather than a spiritual practice. Similarly, limiting oneself to only what satisfies basic appetite does not embody fasting; that practice is known as temperance or moderation. The essence of fasting finds its significance in its intended purpose, which involves not only abstaining from nourishment and drink (Daniel 10:3) but also from all forms of earthly pleasure (Isaiah 58:3-5) and, fundamentally, abandoning sin (Isaiah 58:6-8). St.