Sleep, spiritual

Scripture often uses sleep as an image of spiritual laziness or a lack of alertness towards God.

Sleep as an image of spiritual laziness

Lack of watchfulness

Isaiah 56:10 See also Matthew 24:43–44 parallel Luke 12:39–40; Mark 13:35–36

Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.

Spiritual dullness

Acts 28:25–27 See also Isaiah 6:9–10; Proverbs 23:34–35ROM Proverbs 11:8; Isaiah 29:10

They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

God's call to awake from sleep

The need to arise

Romans 13:11–12 See also Isaiah 51:17, Isaiah 52:1, Isaiah 60:1; Ephesians 5:14; Revelation 3:2

And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

The command to be alert

Revelation 16:15 See also Matthew 26:41; Mark 13:32–34; Luke 12:35; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:6–8; 1 Peter 5:8

“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”

The plea for revival

Psalm 80:18, Psalm 85:6

The image of God awaking from sleep

From his past judgments

Psalm 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a mighty warrior overcome by wine.

Prayers for God to rise up against his enemies

Psalm 7:6 See also Psalm 35:23, Psalm 44:23–24, Psalm 73:20, Psalm 80:1–2; Isaiah 51:9

Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.

The contrast between God who never sleeps and false gods

Psalm 121:3–4 See also 1 Kings 18:27; Habakkuk 2:19

He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.