There are two readings for today.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 134
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. [Psalm 134:1]
As I see it, the night is for sleeping.
And normally that is what I want to do through the night, though lately my sleep is unpredictable.
The few times I had to do the night shift, it was not a pleasant experience – as I said, the night is for sleeping.
But here the psalmist speaks to those who are awake at night, doing the night shift in the temple.
And they are urged to praise the Lord at night too.
Apparently, the night is also for praising.
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. [Luke 6:12]
Jesus found another purpose for this particular night – for prayer.
He spent the night praying to God, when is the last time I did this?
It seems the importance of choosing his 12 apostles was enough to keep Him awake all night, wrestling with God for just the right names.
There’s nothing wrong with sleeping through the night; but when for whatever reason we are awake at night, it also can be a time for praise and prayer.
In other words, the Lord is very much a part of the night shift too.
Afterall, He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. [Psalm 121:3-4]
The next time you are awake at night – whether for the night shift or because you are wrestling with a big decision, or because you just can’t sleep – use that time for praise and prayer.
Seek His blessing, turn it into God time.
Yes, the Lord grants sleep to those he loves [Psalm 127:2] but He also invites us to spend time with Him through the watches of the night. [Psalm 63:6]
So the next time you are awake at night, lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. [Psalm 134:2]
And as you do so, may the LORD bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth. [Psalm 134:3]
PRAYER:
Lord, I do love to sleep at night, and resent when I cannot sleep. Help me to look to You in those times, to praise You and pray to You, while I’m awake.