Fasting in the Night: A King's Distress and Divine Intervention
"¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him." - Daniel 6:18
In the book of Daniel, chapter 6, verse 18, we find a remarkable moment encapsulated in the phrase, "Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him" (KJV). This verse reveals the deep turmoil of a king who is faced with a crisis that spirals beyond his control, highlighting how prayer and fasting can become a lifeline in times of desperation.
King Darius, having unwittingly condemned Daniel to the lion's den, experienced a night of anguish and unease. The very king who issued the decree that led to Daniel’s plight was consumed with regret and distress. His action, motivated by flattery and manipulation from his advisors, caused him deep sorrow as he realized the inevitable fate awaiting Daniel, a man he respected and favored. Darius's decision to fast that night was not just a refusal of food; it was a desperate act of mourning and longing for divine intervention.
This verse profoundly reflects the weight of responsibility our rulers and leaders hold, and how their decisions can significantly impact the lives of others. The king’s solitude in his palace, void of music and cheer, speaks to the dark night of the soul that many of us face. How often do we attempt to distract ourselves from our worries with entertainment or trivial pursuits? Darius was not in the mood for music; the gravity of his decisions stripped him of any comfort that rhythms or melodies could provide.
Fasting, in the biblical sense, is often accompanied by fervent prayer and seeks an audience with the Almighty. It embodies an acknowledgment that we can do nothing without God and that we need His help for the trials we face. While the king's thoughts were filled with dread, the act of fasting suggests that he was turning his mind—and heart—towards God in search of comfort and perhaps a miracle for Daniel.
Let us consider the significance of this moment in our own lives. There are times when we find ourselves faced with decisions that may have lasting repercussions not only for us but for those we care about deeply. When circumstance pulls us into a pit of despair, how do we respond? The response of fasting indicates that the king understood the imperative of seeking God in times of crisis. Fasting and prayer are interwoven threads throughout scripture, echoing the church’s call to seek God’s will and intervention.
Daniel’s situation was dire, yet he remained steadfast in his faith. We must hold on to the belief that our situation, however dark, can change through the power of prayer and fasting. Darius, despite his initial actions leading to Daniel's plight, leaned into a fervor of hope that somehow, by divine grace, Daniel would be delivered from the jaws of death.
We also note the divine irony in this passage; Darius, though king, was powerless against the decree he had issued. God’s sovereignty surpasses human authority, and while Darius exemplified worry and fearful contemplation, God was preparing a miraculous rescue for Daniel.
As we reflect on this passage, we can find encouragement in moments of distress. God’s response to our prayers may not always come when we expect it, but just as He demonstrated His power through Daniel in the lion’s den, He can bring deliverance into our lives as well. Darius experienced a sleepless night because he cared deeply; let us ensure that our sleepless nights are filled with prayerful pursuits, fasted meals, and divine anticipation of what God can do.
Thus, we come away from this verse with a fuller understanding of what it means to fast in our times of need. The world may cause us to weep, but we are reminded that in our darkest hours, fervent prayer and heartfelt fasting can lead to divine breakthroughs. Let us follow this model of seeking God, surrendering our worries, and hoping for miraculous outcomes.
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Daniel 6:18 - "¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him."
"¶ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him." - Daniel 6:18
Daniel 6:28 - "So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian."
Daniel 6:21 - "Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever."
Daniel 1:6 - "Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:"
Daniel 6:11 - "Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God."
Daniel 2:18 - "That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon."
Daniel 6:3-4 - "Daniel 6:3-4: Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. So the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him."
Daniel 6:16 - "Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee."
Daniel 6:20 - "And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?"
Nehemiah 10:6 - "Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,"
Daniel 6:2 - "And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage."
Daniel 6:27 - "He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."
Daniel 6:3 - "Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm."
Daniel 6:23 - "Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God."
Daniel 6:5 - "Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God."
"Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever." - Daniel 6:21
"So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian." - Daniel 6:28
Daniel 6:17 - "And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel."
Daniel 6:6 - "Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever."
Daniel 6:9 - "Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree."
"Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:" - Daniel 1:6
Daniel 10:18 - "Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,"
Daniel 6:14 - "Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him."
"Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch," - Nehemiah 10:6
Daniel 7:18 - "But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."
"Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God." - Daniel 6:11
Daniel 6:4 - "¶ Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him."
Daniel 6:13 - "Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day."
Daniel 6:22 – "My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions."