We have all had restless nights. Tossing and turning when sleep just won’t seem to come and our minds keep moving through various circumstances, situations, fears, doubts, concerns to the point we may as well get up and find something mindless on the tube, our phone or tablet, or elsewhere to bore us to sleep.
I must admit that I have always been somewhat of a sleep deprived individual by choice. I’d rather go to bed late and get up early. Even in junior high and high school I rarely did homework after school or in the evening. I preferred to get up at 5 or 6 a.m. and do it before going to school. My mother thought I was nuts and blamed it on my being born premature and living the first several weeks of my life under bright hospital lights during the nocturnal hours. I don’t know what the issue was, I just preferred it. It served me well in my many years as a Morning AIr Personality in radio where I was up at 4 or 4:30 and on the air by 6, and still rarely was in bed before 11. My family says this job based sleep deprivation made me grumpy, and the grouch I am today. I may resemble those remarks.
I mention all this simply because I want to to turn to the wisdom of Proverbs for a few moments. This week I had a brother ask for prayer specifically for “sleep, peace, and recovery “. As I begin to lift this brother up before our God, who knows all things, I was inspired by the Spirit to share a passage of scripture that I initially felt too familiar, and somewhat trite, for the situation. But, I did so anyway, still thinking it might be an inappropriate fit. However, he later wrote back his thanks for what he called wonderful encouragement.
That familiar passage was from Proverbs 3 and said much about the health benefits of seeking His wisdom AND His understanding.
[Proverbs 3:5-8 NASB95] 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.
This very familiar passage is taken for granted by most of us in reference to finding direction and guidance. But consider verse 8 which indicates health benefits in very clear terms “healing to your body” and “refreshment to your bones”. The word body here is literally: navel…perhaps analogous to our innermost being from which springs up rivers of living waters. So, seeking His wisdom and understanding, and not learning on your own, can minister healing bodily, but perhaps even deeper in the inner man and spirit. It also brings refreshment to our bones. Our structure and foundations are renewed, refreshed, restored in the light of His wisdom and understanding
A little farther on the wisdom of Proverbs, in a less familiar section, but one I was still inspired to share, tells us of the sovereignty of God’s wisdom and understanding in creation and again the benefits or trust and seeking His wisdom and understanding:
[Proverbs 3:19-24 NASB95] 19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. 20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew. 21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. 23 Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
The first benefit relating to our well being it tells us of is that His wisdom and understanding will bring “life to our soul”. Again, the indication is that they bring benefit to our inner being (soul: often defined as mind/will/emotions) our mind and thoughts placed in order trusting HIm, our will submitted to Him who knows and holds all things, and our emotions controlled by His Spirit in actions rather than in reactions springing out of our carnal wisdom and understanding.
They will be “an adornment to your neck”. Some translations say they bring grace to your neck. This speaks like a beautiful gold chain worn around your neck of your wealth and your reputation. Draw your own conclusions to the significance.
Next “you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble”. At my age these days I can definitely tell you of the benefits of not falling. My knees and ankles are weakened by years of use, and yes abuse under too much weight unfortunately, rather than by bending in prayer. To walk and not stumble, to be secure in your gait, to have confidence you will not fall and endure injury, or body nor humiliation of mind, is an incredible benefit.
Finally, “when you lie down you will not be afraid….. your sleep will be sweet”. The term sweet also means pleasant. Now dealing with those issues of insomnia and sleep deprivation; Having His wisdom and understanding you lie down without fear and anxieties keeping you awake. No more tossing and turning about situations and circumstances, what you did or didn’t do, fears, doubts, concerns. No more late night t.v., digital games, or worse to dull your mind. Your sleep will be sweet! When we lie down to sleep we all somehow inwardly know we are most exposed and vulnerable.Our own understanding and wisdom often then moves into fright and fight or flight mode and we feel some need to stay up “on guard”. But resting under His wisdom and understanding, we can be quieted and assured, for just as “He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalm 121:4), so does He keep the watch over us. Oh, may we by lying down under His wisdom and understanding find sleep sweet and our dreams pleasant.
[Psalm 4:8 NASB95] 8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.
[Psalm 116:7-9 NASB95] 7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling. 9 I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living.
One note here for your consideration. We read in the scriptures many times where the LORD caused a deep sleep to fall on someone. (Adam, Abram, Saul’s guards). Other times we see sleep being a place of communication. It seems He has a purpose in sleep/rest being a place to get our attention and to change things and our perspective. Adam was put in a deep sleep so a rib could be taken and fashioned into his helpmate. He was changed and something new created out of His rest. (I have often said God put him to sleep, because He didn’t want his advice on a perfect mate and suitable helper). Jacob received a great vision in a dream of angels ascending and descending. Those rocks he slept on must have been comfy! When he awoke he said “Surely God was in this place and I did not know it” Out of rest and sweet sleep sometimes comes change, and vision, from resting in His wisdom and understanding.
Proverbs 3 also tells us:
[Proverbs 3:13-16 NASB95] 13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. 14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
I will not go into the exposition of this passage. But, It has been said that wisdom is simple knowledge. But understanding is the comprehension of what to do with, or because of, that wisdom/knowledge. Let us seek both in Him and find rest and sweet sleep more often.
In these times, and this week, I was also reminded of another passage from Proverbs I will offer for your consideration and for your peace. This week we saw unexpected outcomes of elections, and quick turns of power and events, in The United Kingdom and France . And, of course, our political picture here in the U.S. has been in a state of turmoil and change in polls and attitudes over the last couple of weeks as we head toward fall elections. Remember, we are citizens of a heavenly Kingdom as well, and as such we are ambassadors of that Kingdom and, to a large degree, strangers and aliens in this one. We are in the world but not of it. But mostly remember we know He Who is Sovereign God and holds all things in His hands. Here is the scripture:
[Proverbs 21:1 NASB95] 1 The king’s heart is [like] channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Kings, leaders, governments, are not outside the realm of His Sovereignty and plan. He has often used and controlled them for purposes related to His own people He is at work through them for His purpose. And moves them as water through His fingers. He can and does turn things on a dime sometimes, even in and through the hearts of evil men, to establish His way. (Read of the kings He used in the restoration of Jerusalem in Nehemiah or Ezra). We may have confidence in what He is doing! This does not mean we should shirk our responsibilities as citizens of our country, thinking Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be. But, it does mean we must find peace in Him and exercise our responsibilities before He who is our Lord, and King in His Kingdom, until “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His [fn]Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)
So, as we participate as citizens in a political process that certainly involves us and affects us, let us seek wisdom and understanding, from a base of knowing that our King’s Kingdom and Government is established and there will be no end to its increase nor of the peace it brings (Isaiah 9:6, Daniel 7:14)