Ezra 8:21

Ezra Proclaims A Fast

²⁰ There were also 220 of the temple servants, who had been appointed by David and the leaders for the work of the Levites. All were identified by name. ²¹ I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions. ²² I did this because I was ashamed to ask the king for infantry and cavalry to protect us from enemies during the journey, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who abandon Him.”

For Us

Little Ones

Proclaimed a Fast

Ahava

Ezra

2 Chronicles 20:3

Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah,

Psalm 5:8

Lord, lead me in Your righteousness
because of my adversaries;
make Your way straight before me.

Leviticus 16:29

“This is to be a permanent statute for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month you are to practice self-denial and do no work, both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.

Leviticus 23:29

If any person does not practice self-denial on this particular day, he must be cut off from his people.

1 Samuel 7:6

When they gathered at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out in the Lord’s presence. They fasted that day, and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah.

Ezra 8:15

I gathered them at the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I searched among the people and priests, but found no Levites there.

Isaiah 58:3

“Why have we fasted, but You have not seen?
We have denied ourselves, but You haven’t noticed!”
“Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast,
and oppress all your workers.

Isaiah 58:5

Will the fast I choose be like this:
A day for a person to deny himself,
to bow his head like a reed,
and to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast
and a day acceptable to the Lord?

Leviticus 16:31

It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you must practice self-denial; it is a permanent statute.

Numbers 14:3

Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and little children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

Numbers 14:31

I will bring your children whom you said would become plunder into the land you rejected, and they will enjoy it.

Judges 20:26

The whole Israelite army went to Bethel where they wept and sat before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.

Ezra 8:31

We set out from the Ahava River on the twelfth day of the first month to go to Jerusalem. We were strengthened by our God, and He protected us from the power of the enemy and from ambush along the way.

Psalm 8:2

Because of Your adversaries,
You have established a stronghold
from the mouths of children and nursing infants
to silence the enemy and the avenger.

Psalm 107:2-8

Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim
that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe

Psalm 143:8-10

Let me experience
Your faithful love in the morning,
for I trust in You.
Reveal to me the way I should go
because I long for You.

Proverbs 3:6

think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.

Isaiah 30:21

and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”

Isaiah 35:8

A road will be there and a way;
it will be called the Holy Way.
The unclean will not travel on it,
but it will be for the one who walks the path.
Even the fool will not go astray.

Isaiah 42:16

I will lead the blind by a way they did not know;
I will guide them on paths they have not known.
I will turn darkness to light in front of them
and rough places into level ground.
This is what I will do for them,
and I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 49:10

They will not hunger or thirst,
the scorching heat or sun will not strike them;
for their compassionate One will guide them,
and lead them to springs of water.

Jeremiah 10:23

I know, Lord,
that a man’s way of life is not his own;
no one who walks determines his own steps.

Jeremiah 31:8-9

Watch! I am going to bring them from the northern land.
I will gather them from remote regions of the earth—
the blind and the lame will be with them,
along with those who are pregnant and those about to give birth.
They will return here as a great assembly!

Jeremiah 50:4-5

In those days and at that time—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
the Israelites and Judeans will come together,
weeping as they come,
and will seek the Lord their God.

Joel 1:14

Announce a sacred fast;
proclaim an assembly!
Gather the elders
and all the residents of the land
at the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord.

Joel 2:12-18

Even now—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
turn to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Jonah 3:5

The men of Nineveh believed in God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth—from the greatest of them to the least.

Mark 10:13-16

Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them.

Acts 2:39

For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”