A STUDY ON SLEEP
UK
Sometimes we sleep well, other times poorly. For some of us, we sleep well most of the time with only the occasional poor night’s sleep. For others, poor sleep is the norm, with only the occasional good night’s sleep. Why is this the case? What can we learn about this subject from the Scriptures? First, we see that sleep is something in the hands of the Almighty, as all  things are. At the time of the Creation we read that,
“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept.” – (Genesis 2:21)
In 1 Samuel 26 we read of “a deep sleep from the LORD” that was fallen on Saul and those around him.
In the Psalms we read that, “He giveth His beloved sleep.” – (Psalm 127:2)
Although these are only a couple verses, there is a clear indication that sleep is in the hands of the Almighty.
Next, we shall look at poor/broken/lack of sleep. What are the causes? One cause is being troubled in spirit. In Genesis 41:1-8 and Daniel 2:1, we read of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar. Both these men were suffering broken sleep, because of dreams sent from the Almighty which troubled them greatly. Another man who was troubled in spirit was King Darius. In Daniel 6, after Daniel is thrown into the den of lions, King Darius could not sleep that night. The evil that was happening to Daniel at that moment, as he supposed, kept him from sleeping. In fact, such was his grief about the evil that was done, he would not allow himself to eat or to have music played to soothe him to sleep. (Daniel 6:18)
A lack of sleep can also be caused by righteous industry. In Genesis 31:38-40, Jacob gives an account of his industry to Laban. During the time that Jacob had looked after Laban ‘s flocks, he had been diligent to look after Laban’s property. Caring for that which belonged to his uncle, who was also his employer, he would not want to bring dishonour to himself or on his uncle by not being industrious. Thus, such was his industry, his sleep departed from him for a righteous reason.
At the beginning of Esther 6, we read that King Ahasuerus could not sleep. Calling for the book of records of the chronicles, and having them read to him, perhaps in the hope that it might lull him to sleep, it was found that Mordecai had saved the king’s life and no honour had been done to him for it. Haman, who had come seeking to take Mordecai’s life, was sent to honour Mordecai before he had opportunity to ask the king for Mordecai’s life. Though no indication is given, surely it was the Almighty who made Ahasuerus unable to sleep for the purpose of preserving Mordecai’s life, and ultimately to deliver His covenant people from destruction.
In the second half of Ecclesiastes 5:12 we read, “…the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” When riches increase and there is an abundance, there is not the same need to work. Working less means less energy is used, thus making it more difficult to sleep, because you are not tired. This is one way this verse can be understood, but there is another way it can be understood. Why will the abundance of the rich not allow him to sleep? Perhaps it is because with great abundance there comes a greater risk of thieves breaking in to steal that abundance. With the concern/worry of this possibility, Â the rich finds he cannot sleep for fear of losing his riches, and for-this reason “the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.”
Not allowing sleep until righteousness is done is another reason for a lack of sleep.
In Psalm 132:1-5 we read how David had vowed that he would not allow himself to sleep until he had found an habitation for the Almighty. Though he may have meant this allegorically, we see how he would not give himself rest till he had done that which was right and brought honour to his Redeemer.
On the other end of the scale, we have the wicked. In Proverbs 4:14-17 we read of the wicked and how “they sleep not, except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.” Such is the extent of the wicked’s lust for sin, they will not rest/sleep/be at peace until they have committed evil.
Thus, we see that there is a variety of reasons for poor/broken/lack of sleep; being troubled in spirit, righteous industry, the Almighty ‘s doing for the purposes of deliverance, worry/concern about temporal matters, deliberate denial until righteousness is done, and deliberate denial until wickedness is done.
What about excellent sleep? What are the causes? How can we sleep well? What makes our sleep sweet to us? Just as the Almighty can cause a lack of sleep for His purposes, He can also cause deep sleep for His purposes. We see this in I Samuel 26:3-25, where the Almighty sends a deep sleep on Saul and those around him, so that David might be delivered from the hand of Saul.
Physical exhaustion can cause us to sleep well. We see this in Ecclesiastes 5:12, where the sleep of a labouring man is sweet. Not only the physical tiredness, but also the knowledge that you have done an honest day’s work makes sleep sweet to us. Jonah was one who slept well from physical exhaustion (Jonah 1:1-5), but his exhaustion was from fleeing in disobedience to the Almighty’ s command. Let us be sure our physical tiredness is from righteous industry. In Jeremiah 31:23-26 we read of a promjse in a dream of the returning of the captivity of Judah/Israel, and when Jeremiah awoke, his sleep was sweet to him. What a difference from the sleep of Nebuchadnezzar and of Pharaoh, whose sleep was disturbed by dreams with bad tidings! Joyful tidings in a dream made sleep sweet to Jeremiah.
Another way that our sleep is made sweet to us is by walking in the ways of the Almighty and having His wisdom and discretion. For this will keep us from fear and will make our sleep sweet. We read this in Proverbs 3:21-24 and also in Proverbs 6:20-22.
For we who are the beloved of the Almighty, we can sleep well and our sleep be sweet (Psalm 127:1-2), because He sustains us (Psalm 3:5). He alone makes us safe; therefore, we can sleep in peace (Psalm 4:8). He has made with us a covenant of peace and promised that we shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. (“Sleep in the woods” perhaps indicates that where, normally, there would be danger we do not need to worry because we can trust our God.)
Our Saviour, Jesus, sets an example for us about not letting fear disturb/trouble our sleep. On two separate occasions, when crossing the sea, rough/ stormy weather caused the disciples to fear for their lives. Meanwhile the Saviour slept; unfearful. When the disciples woke Him, He asked them why they were fearful and where was their faith/trust. Peter must have learned from these two occasions, for in Acts 12:1-7, when Herod has imprisoned Peter and is planning on killing him, the passage finds Peter fast asleep in prison. Peter was not lying awake fretting; fearing for his life. Can any doubt that he was trusting in his Master, remembering the words spoken to him and the other disciples on those earlier occasions, and therefore sleeping soundly? In fact, so soundly was he asleep, that the angel of the LORD had to smite Peter on the side to wake him.
As believers, is there any personal, family, national, workplace, or spiritual situation that we are fretting about; letting it trouble our minds, and therefore letting it disturb our sleep? Surely, we should follow the examples before us, and we should “cast all our care upon Him,” trust in Him completely, lay ourselves down in peace, and sleep.
To conclude this study, we would just add this cautionary note. While it is right that we should aim to have excellent sleep, let us be sure not to be as the sluggard, lest we be brought to poverty (Proverbs 6:6-11; 20:13; 24:30-34), go hungry (Proverbs 19:15), and bring shame on our Heavenly father (Proverbs 10:5).
Let us be sure that we are up and doing for our Master while it is day. For “the night cometh, when no man can work.”
