Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 4000 Creation » 4900 Time » 4957 night The period of darkness between evening and morning. It is generally a time for the cessation of daily activity and for sleep, but, because darkness also gives an opportunity for evil, there is need to be watchful. The term may also be used figuratively to refer to evil or to a period of distress. Night-time also provides opportunity for contemplation and for prayer. Night distinguished from day Genesis 1:5 See also Genesis 1:14-18; Psalm 74:16 Night as a time for rest and sleep Rest from daily activity Judges 19:9; Ecclesiastes 2:23; John 9:4; John 11:9-10 Sleep Genesis 15:12; Genesis 28:11; Job 4:13 Activity day and night implies continuity and commitment Weeping Psalm 42:3; Jeremiah 9:1; Jeremiah 14:17 Prayer Nehemiah 1:6; Psalm 88:1; Luke 18:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:10 Meditation Worship Luke 2:37; Acts 26:7; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 7:15 Work 1 Chronicles 9:33; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8 The watches of the night In OT times: three watches Lamentations 2:19 the first watch: sunset to midnight; Judges 7:19 the second watch: midnight to 3 a.m; Exodus 14:24 the last watch: 3 a.m. to dawn In NT times: four watches Mark 13:35 See also Matthew 14:25 pp Mark 6:48; Luke 12:38 Night associated with evil The period when evil is at work John 13:30 Night symbolises the darkness in Judas' soul, and denotes, too, the time of activity of the powers of darkness. See also Job 30:26; Proverbs 4:19; Luke 22:53 Opportunity for evil 1 Corinthians 4:5 Evil flourishes under cover of darkness. See also Proverbs 2:13; John 3:19-20; Job 24:14 Murder; Proverbs 7:8-9 Adultery; 1 Thessalonians 5:7 Drunkenness; Jeremiah 49:9 pp Ob 5 Theft Believers do not belong to the night 1 Thessalonians 5:5 See also John 12:35-36; Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:8; Colossians 1:13 Believers are to remain watchful 1 Thessalonians 5:6 See also Matthew 24:42-44; Matthew 25:13; Mark 13:36-37 Night associated with distress Gloom caused by distress Psalm 107:13-14; Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 59:9 Night as a time of weeping Psalm 6:6; Psalm 30:5; Lamentations 1:2 Night as an opportunity to seek God In prayer Luke 6:12 See also 1 Samuel 15:11; Psalm 22:2; Psalm 119:62 In worship Acts 16:25 See also Job 35:10; Psalm 42:8; Psalm 77:6; Psalm 139:1-2; Psalm 149:5; Isaiah 30:29 In contemplation Psalm 63:6 See also Psalm 119:55; Isaiah 26:9 Night as an opportunity to receive revelation God's voice at night God's revelation through visions 2 Chronicles 7:12; Daniel 2:19; Daniel 7:2; Zechariah 1:8; Acts 18:9; Acts 23:11 God's revelation through dreams Genesis 20:3; Genesis 31:24; 1 Kings 3:5; Job 33:15 No night in heaven Revelation 21:25; Revelation 22:5 See also
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