Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5532 sleep  »  5534 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 pp Luke 12:39-40; Mark 13:35-36

Spiritual dullness

Acts 28:25-27 See also Isaiah 6:9-10; Proverbs 23:34-35

As a result of God's judgment:

Romans 11:8; Isaiah 29:10

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

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

The plea for revival

Psalm 80:18; Psalm 85:6

The image of God awaking from sleep

From his past judgments

Psalm 78:65

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

The contrast between God who never sleeps and false gods

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

See also

5611  watchman
6139  deadness, spiritual
8148  revival
8490  watchfulness
8602  prayer