For several years, I have heard many discussions and arguments over whether or not we are to fast on Yom Kippur.  If Yom Kippur was only about fasting then I could see such a need for these discussions.  But I think we need to get passed these arguments about whether or not to fast and look at the real issue God was addressing in Isaiah 58.

 God said that on Yom Kippur we are to “afflict” our soul.

Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. ( Lev. 23:27…KJV)

The phrase in scripture "afflict your soul" means to fast. Whether it is a total fast, which is abstaining from food and water or a partial fast, which is abstaining from specific foods,
it means to fast or deny oneself.   To “humble” oneself means to fast and to remove any rich clothing or jewelry and dress or sit upon sackcloth and ashes. This was an expression of humiliation. We see many examples of this in scripture, i.e., Queen Esther and Modecai.

Where the discussion comes in with Isaiah 58 is that people today are concentrating on whether we are to fast, as in abstaining from food and/or water, or not to fast on Yom Kippur, rather than looking at the whole picture. Like those to whom God was speaking through the prophet Isaiah, we miss the point of what God is communicating in these passages of scripture.
We are missing the forest for the trees.

Isaiah 58:3-4…The first half of the verse expresses the people’s sense of disappointment at the failure of their efforts to win the favor of Yahweh; then the prophet exposes their hypocrisy.
Hypocrites depend on their fasting and prayer to put God under obligation to them. When fasting is the result of a humble and broken heart, it is acceptable; when it is instituted as a means of purchasing the divine favor, and as laying God under obligation to the one fasting , it
it is the wrong motive. They seemed to think that since they were fasting and keeping His Sabbaths and Feasts that God was obligated to them.

The abstinence from food or humbling oneself is not the goal in fasting.  God esteems these acts to be of value only as it will be the means of leading us to reflect on our faults, and to amend our lives.

Yom Kippur is a day to afflict the soul. Yes, we begin by afflicting our soul with fasting from food and/or water but it is deeper than that. We afflict our souls on a deeper level by taking a good, honest look at ourselves, our attitudes and motives. It is not a true Yom Kippur fast if it does
not express true sorrow for sin, and does not promote the putting away of sin. This is the real affliction of the soul that pleases God.  We bare our souls to God.

 

Fasting should bring us to this deeper level of “soul affliction” and change us. If it does not,
then we are just doing without food and we might as well eat, for it will avail us nothing in the Kingdom of God.

To be compassionate, kind, and merciful is more acceptable to God than just abstaining from food.  In Isaiah 58 God is saying they were violating the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. Good works will bring the blessing of God, provided they are done from love to God and to man by the Holy Spirit.

On Yom Kippur we draw close to God by prayer and fasting and He promises to draw near to us if we meet His requirements.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you who are half-hearted towards God. ( James 4:8)

We fast to quiet our appetites, our thoughts and close off all distractions. The motive is so we can hear from on high. We examine ourselves in His Presence and we let Him examine us. He will speak to us in the still small voice of the Holy Spirit about the things needed to amend our lives. He will show us by His Word and by His Holy Spirit where we have missed it. This is not to condemn us but so we can repent. We can be more aware of the weak points we have in our lives and avoid those pitfalls in the future. He may send us to apologize to our brethren and make amends for any offenses so we can be reconciled one to another.
The goal is to be reconciled to Him and to others.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  John 1:9

“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matt.5:23-24

 As we fast and pray we should do a self examination and ask ourselves some of these questions.

Are we sharing our means and taking care of the needs of the brethren among us?
Are we praying for one another continually?
Are we seeking to restore brethren who have fallen?
Do we love one another as Yeshua loved us? 
Are we kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as in Yeshua
God forgave us?

To answer to the question as to whether we are to fast, abstain from food, on Yom Kippur…