Deeper Life #239

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

—Psalm 127:2

HOW MANY OF US HAVE considered the spiritual implications of sleep? When one considers the enormous proportion of human life that is spent in sleep, the question arises, “Why?” The usual answer is, “For physical recuperation.” But surely much less time than that would serve the physical purpose.

We read in Genesis 2:21 that God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and again in Genesis 15:12 that a deep sleep fell on Abraham. Marvelous new revelations were the outcome. In fact, all the dreams in the Bible sprang from a deeper center than common dreams; dreams are really the sign that we are awakening. But in the slumber of the body, God seems to take the souls of His servants into deeper communion.

Whether the dispensation of dreams and their ministry in this respect is past or not, I do not know. But I would like to suggest that God does great things for us and in us during our moments of sleep.

Prayer Thought: While I rest, Lord, keep Your protective hand upon me.

SUGGESTED READING: Psalm 127