BY NIGHT
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Opening Prayer
Thank you, Lord God, for the gift that is mine to worship you in spirit and truth. Thank you for the privilege that is mine to proclaim your goodness wherever you lead me.
Read PSALM 134
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Psalm 134
A song of ascents.
1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord.
3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘He who watches over you … will neither slumber nor sleep’ (Psalm 121:3, 4).We depend on many different people whose work is night work: nurses, caretakers, doctors, people in emergency services, armed forces, transport, hospitality, manufacturing, security, and many more. Some readers of these notes will be reading this before or after doing a night shift.
There was night work for the Levites working in the temple (1 Chronicles 9:27, 33; 23:28–30). Their tasks were varied, not least, continuing the praise of God day and night—as they had for centuries. Perhaps this brief psalm was used by the temple worshippers giving encouragement liturgically to the Levites on night duty (vv. 1, 2), and verse 3 was the Levites response, assuring the congregation of the Lord’s blessing on them as they headed home. Or perhaps it was a general act of fellowship that included everyone in the temple. They turned to the Lord in praise, and believed the promise of his blessing, entrusting themselves to their faithful Creator at the end of the day.
How do you end the day? As the needle on a compass reverts to magnetic north when at rest, how good it is if our heart and mind can reset before sleep. A verse, a prayer, or a page from a Christian book last thing at night can help us daily to rest in Christ.
Apply
Do you have a nighttime ritual? Does it include something that will point your mind and heart toward your loving God?
Closing prayer
My Lord, who never sleeps, I lift up those I know who work at night. Please give them alertness, resilience, and a sense of your presence.
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