Morning

The period of time roughly between dawn and noon. Morning was an assigned time for worship, sacrifice and prayer. The morning light uncovers events of the night and provides opportunity for renewed daily activity. God's blessings are received new every morning, and the start of a new day symbolises renewal and hope.

Morning as the start of a new day

The period of time created by God

Genesis 1:5 See also Genesis 1:8; Exodus 18:13–14 The working day is reckoned from morning till evening; Exodus 27:21 The night is reckoned from evening till morning; Job 38:12

God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day.

The transience of morning mist

Isaiah 44:22; Hosea 6:4, Hosea 13:3

Morning as a symbol of renewed hope

Psalm 30:5 See also Psalm 130:6; Isaiah 21:11–12, Isaiah 26:19

For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.

The Messiah brings a new morning

Malachi 4:2; 2 Peter 1:19 See also Luke 1:78–79; Romans 13:12; 1 John 2:8; Revelation 2:28, Revelation 22:16

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.

We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

The sky in the morning

Matthew 16:3

Morning as an opportunity for activity

She has said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the harvesters.’ So she came out and has continued from morning until now, except that she rested a short time in the shelter.”

A time to begin important activity

Exodus 9:13, Exodus 34:2–4 See also Exodus 7:15, Exodus 8:20; 1 Kings 18:26; Acts 23:12, Acts 28:23

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.

Be ready in the morning, and come up on Mount Sinai to present yourself before Me on the mountaintop. No one may go up with you; in fact, no one may be seen anywhere on the mountain — not even the flocks or herds may graze in front of the mountain.” So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the originals. He rose early in the morning, and taking the two stone tablets in his hands, he went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him.

A time to respond to nightly revelation

Genesis 20:8, Genesis 28:18, Genesis 41:8

A time to administer justice

Jeremiah 21:12; Zephaniah 3:5

Morning as a time of revelation

A time of discovery

Genesis 29:25; 2 Kings 19:35 parallel Isaiah 37:36 See also Genesis 19:27–28; Judges 6:28; 1 Samuel 5:4; Isaiah 17:14; 1 Kings 3:21; 2 Kings 6:15; Acts 12:18; 1 Corinthians 4:5

When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”

And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!

Morning brings God's revelation

Exodus 16:7–8 See also Numbers 16:5; Joshua 7:14; 1 Samuel 9:19; Isaiah 50:4; Ezekiel 12:8

and in the morning you will see the LORD’s glory, because He has heard your grumbling against Him. For who are we, that you should grumble against us?” And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.”

Morning devotions

A time for offering sacrifices

Ezekiel 46:13–15 See also Exodus 29:38–40, Exodus 36:3; Numbers 28:3–5; 1 Chronicles 16:40; 2 Chronicles 2:4, 2 Chronicles 13:11, 2 Chronicles 29:20–21; Job 1:5

And you shall provide an unblemished year-old lamb as a daily burnt offering to the LORD; you are to offer it every morning. You are also to provide with it every morning a grain offering of a sixth of an ephah with a third of a hin of oil to moisten the fine flour— a grain offering to the LORD. This is a permanent statute. Thus they shall provide the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil every morning as a regular burnt offering.’

A time for prayer

Psalm 88:13 See also Psalm 5:3, Psalm 55:17; Mark 1:35

But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.

A time to praise God

Psalm 92:1–3 See also 1 Chronicles 23:30; Psalm 59:16, Psalm 65:8

A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning and Your faithfulness at night with the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.

Priestly duties each morning

Exodus 30:7 burning incense; Leviticus 6:12 making the burnt offering

God's blessings are received new each morning

Lamentations 3:22–23 See also Exodus 16:12–15 God's provision of manna in the desert; 1 Kings 17:6 God supplies Elijah with food; Psalm 90:14; Isaiah 33:2

Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!