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Awake in the Night Watches

Text: Psalm 102, 119:148
23 July 2006

(I) DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM OF SLEEPLESSNESS

“I am like a pelican of the wilderness;
I am like an owl of the desert;
I lie awake,
And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop” Psalm 102:6-7

1. Interesting comparisons

a) A pelican in the wilderness

i) Gorges itself with fish

ii) Flies into the wilderness

iii) Remains there all alone doing nothing till all the food is ingested

b) An owl of the desert

i) A little owl (Athena Glaux)

ii) Seen at twilight in Palestine

iii) Solitude

c) A sparrow alone in the housetop

i) House sparrow

ii) Alone on the housetop

2. I lie awake

a) Aloneness

b) Stillness of the night

(II) DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF SLEEPLESSNESS

“My eyes are awake through the night watches
That I may meditate on Your word” Psalm 119:148

1. The night watches

a) Divided into three watches (four hours each)

i) First watch (Sunset 6.00pm to 10.00pm)

ii) Second Watch (10.00pm- 2.00am)

iii) Third Watch (2.00am- 6.00am Sunrise)

b) Need to be wakeful

c) Watchfulness well utilized

2. The practice of Meditation

“When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches” Psalm 63:6
“Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97
“I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD
And have comforted myself” Psalm 119:52
“O LORD, how great are Your works!
Your thoughts are very deep” Psalm 92:5

a) Subject of Meditation

i) God Himself

ii) The Word of God

b) Practice of Meditation

i) Remembering God (His attributes)

ii) Recalling all His deeds

c) Cultivation of a love for Meditation

i) Great use of time

ii) Fruitfulness