The Sleeping and the Drunken 1 Thessalonians 5:7

Paul told the Thessalonians “the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night”, and he assured them they were not a people “in darkness” but rather “children of light, and the children of the day” concerning Jesus' return and the “sudden destruction” to follow. They were to “watch and be sober” rather than “sleeping as do others”, and in chapter five and verse seven of his letter, Paul shared more about those who “sleep” and are “drunken” where we read:

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

The verse begins, “For they that sleep sleep in the night;” Paul began with the word, “For” which means “as, because, even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and yet” “they that sleep” or “fall or drop off to sleep and yield to sloth, sin and indifference to salvation” “sleep” which again means “fall or drop off to sleep and yield to sloth, sin and indifference to salvation” “in the night” or “in the nighttime or when work ceases”. This reference is to “the time of moral stupidity and darkness when the weary and drunken give themselves up to slumber”.

The verse goes on to say, “and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.” Paul continued, “and they that be drunken” which means “intoxicated and drunk” “are drunken” or “intoxicated” “in the night” which refers to “in the nighttime or when work ceases”. Both those who are sleeping and drunk usually wait until the nighttime to indulge themselves in their activities.

When we think through Paul's words, we understand his reference is to activities which are done in the day verses those which are done at night. Usually sleeping and drunkenness is reserved for the dark hours, and those who do so wait until nighttime to participate in them. The idea is for the Christian to participate in activities which may be openly displayed in the daytime. Those who are waiting for the Lord Jesus' return must work in a manner which does not need the veil of darkness to cover it. We must be “children of the light”, and everything we do should be as those who have nothing to hide. May the Lord Jesus make us aware of anything that needs the cloak of darkness to screen our actions.

Next time Paul shares with the Thessalonians about “faith”, “hope” and “love”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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