A. Trust in God to bless you with sleep:
Psa.3:5 - I laid me down and slept; for the Lord sustained me
Psa.4:8 - I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep
Psa.127:2b - He giveth His beloved sleep
Eccl.5:12a - The sleep of a labouring man is sweet
Jer.31:26 - I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me
B. God gives freedom from fear and sweet sleep:
Psa.91:5 - Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night
Pro.3:24 - Not be afraid...shalt lie down, and thy sleep be sweet
Acts 12:6 - [Peter able to sleep in prison] bound with two chains
C. The Lord can miraculously give you deep sleep:
Gen.2:21 - The Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam
1Sam.26:12 - A deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them
D. Rest in the Lord and sleep through anything:
Ezk.34:25 - Dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods
Mat.8:24 - Tempest...ship covered with waves: but He was asleep
Psa.42:8 - In the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer
Psa.63:5,6 - When I...meditate on Thee in the night watches
Isa.26:9a - With my soul have I desired Thee in the night
Lam.2:19 - Arise, cry out in the night...pour out thine heart
(See also Psa.4:4; 119:55.)
A. When the Lord wants to speak to you:
1Sam.3:3-10 - Samuel was laid down to sleep...the Lord called
Job 4:12-17 - In the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, a spirit passed before my face...I heard a voice
B. Sometimes God allows it to work out His will:
Est.6:1-3 - On that night could not the king (Ahasuerus) sleep
C. When worried or troubled:
Psa.77:3,4 - Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled
Eccl.2:23 - His days are sorrows...taketh not rest in the night
Eccl.5:12b - Abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep
Dan.6:14-18 - [King Darius passed the night fasting, unable to sleep]
(See also Psa.6:6)
D. Because of unusual dreams:
Dan.2:1 - His spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him
Job 7:13,14 - Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and visions
E. When God is testing you, as He did Job:
Job 7:3,4 - Wearisome nights are appointed unto me...I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day
F. Punishment for disobeying God:
Deut.28:58,66,67 - If thou wilt not observe...thou shalt fear day and night... shalt say, "Would God it were morning"
G. Be considerate of those who are sleeping:
Pro.27:14 - He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early...it shall be counted a curse to him
Song 2:7 - Stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please
A. To pray desperately:
1Sam.15:11 - It grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night
Lk.6:12 - (Jesus) continued all night in prayer to God
1Thes.3:10 - Night and day praying exceedingly (to) see your face
B. To rise early and pray:
1Sam.1:19 - They rose up in the morning early, and worshipped
Mk.1:35 - Rising up a great while before day...Jesus prayed
Psa.57:8,9 - Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise Thee, O Lord
Psa.119:147 - I prevented (was up before) the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in Thy Word
C. To do your job:
Gen.31:38-40 - [Jacob frequently sacrificed sleep for 20 years because of diligent shepherding]
D. Caution about getting overtired:
Psa.127:2 - It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late...for so He giveth His beloved sleep
Acts 20:7-9 - Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep...fell down
A. Don't oversleep when you should be working:
Pro.6:9 - How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When arise...?
Pro.6:10,11 - A little sleep, a little slumber...folding of hands: so shall thy poverty come (See also Pro.24:33,34)
Pro.10:5 - He that sleepeth in harvest...son that causeth shame
Pro.20:13 - Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty
Pro.26:14 - As the door turneth upon hinges, so doth the slothful
B. Times to rise and pray:
Jon.1:4-6 - O sleeper...arise, call upon thy God
Mk.14:37-41 - Sleepest thou? Couldst thou not watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation
Lk.22:46 - Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter temptation
C. When something important needs to be done first:
Psa.132:3-5 - I will not give sleep to mine eyes, until I find
Pro.6:1-4 - Do this now...give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber
D. Oversleeping can be caused by laziness or unconcern for others:
Pro.19:15 - Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep
Isa.56:10,11 - Watchmen are blind...sleeping, loving to slumber
E. Sleep can symbolise spiritual insensitivity:
Rom.13:11,12 - Knowing the time...now it is high time to awake
Eph.5:14 - Awake thou that sleepest...Christ shall give thee light
1Thes.5:4-8 - Let us not sleep...let us watch and be sober
A. When you've slept enough and need to rise:
Isa.50:4 - (God) wakeneth (me) morning by morning...to hear
Zech.4:1 - And the angel that talked with me...waked me
B. To flee danger:
Mat.2:13,14 - Angel...appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise... flee. He arose...by night, and [left with Jesus and Mary]
Acts 12:4-7 - Peter (slept)...angel of the Lord...smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly
C. To give you something you need:
1Ki.19:5-7 - [Angel woke Elijah up twice to give him food and water]
D. He awakens you after giving you an important message:
Mat.1:24 - Joseph being raised from sleep did as angel had bidden