It’s going out of style now, but in times
past a man proposing marriage would get down on one knee in front of his
intended and ask for her hand.
As anyone who has ever googled “Marriage
proposals gone wrong” can attest, that sort of thing can be risky business. The
man usually makes the sacrifice of purchasing an expensive ring, then goes
about proclaiming his love, most often in public, making himself visibly (not
to mention emotionally) vulnerable and taking the chance that his request may be
denied and his efforts come to nothing.
Sacrifice and humiliation. Interesting combination. But if you want something badly enough, maybe a little humiliation
is no big deal.
Old Testament fasting was a little bit like that.