Luke 6:12 Prayer in The Night Watch

Luke 6:12

Prayer in The Night Watch

(Luke 6:12) “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

Most certainly, Christ dwelt among us in a lifestyle of intense prayer. It was undoubtedly a marvel to behold The Son of God labor continually in prayer. How can one consider The Lord Jesus in the flesh so perfectly and purely petitioning to The Father? He prayed with a bloody sweat and passion as no one had ever prayed. Consider for a moment the reality of “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14a). Being said, no man shall ever touch the foothill of the measure and capacity of prayerfulness of our Lord Jesus. What a marvel! What a terrible and awesome sight to have beheld! His disciples did not ask to be enrolled into His school of performing miracles or even the school of preaching, but the school of prayer. For they beckoned Him, “teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Much could be said of the prayerfulness of Christ. However, we will focus for this entry on the area of prayer in the night watches.

Let us first mention that Christ not only prayed in the night, but also early in the morning as well as other portions throughout the day. Mark 1:35 says He prayed, “in the morning, rising up a great while before day”. In Matthew 14:23 He goes to a mountain to pray “when the evening was come, he was there alone.” In this specific instance we have an escalation of opposition in the previous verse. After healing a man in the synagogue with a withered hand, the scribes and Pharisees were filled with a zealous hatred for Him. “And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.” (Luke 6:11) What would be our initial reaction to such an environment of opposition and persecution? Would it be to plot our own rescue and craftily deal with our oppressors? Notice, “what they might do to Jesus.” What authority or power did these high-minded hypocrites have over The Son of God? When Pilate begins to flash his authority around, “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:” (John 19:11a) Therefore, if Christ The Lord sought every circumstance in prayer and petition to The Father, what hinders us from finding the same necessity?

Let us say that we find no advocacy in this passage for slothfulness or some stirring for a late night of YouTube pilfering. Rather, we examine the stirring of the souls of believers and the spiritual elements of prayer in the night watches. Ask yourself firstly, when is the last time you could not sleep? Did you begin to ponder of what hinders your rest? It is likely that you counter wise attempted to occupy your restlessness with some activity that would soon put you to sleep. The same Lord that graciously allows you to arise from sleep with a working body can also graciously interrupt your rest. Would it be foolish for us to think that our inability to rest has spiritual significance? David would not say so. “Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.” (Psalm 119:48) David knew why his eyes were prevented from restfulness in the night; that “I might meditate in thy word.” Multitudes are sleeping through the night. The traffic is lessened on the highways. Stars glisten along with the moonlight of the sky. The ambience of previous hours turns to the sounds and stillness of the night. Yet, God is not asleep! “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:4) Have you ever wanted to talk to a family member or friend, but they were asleep? You restlessly try to awake them, but they are out like a light? Friend, God never sleeps! This reality is the motivating factor for us praying in the night watch.

It surely would have pierced the soul to gaze into that mountain and among the sounds of crickets to hear the divine voice of Christ “all night in prayer to God.” How have you approached your restlessness and turmoil that floods your mind as you attempt to sleep these realities away? Some Christians may say, “I have no adversity at the moment. I cannot trace my restlessness to an issue of strife or conflict.” One night in 1 Samuel 3, Eli was laid down and Samuel was also asleep. However, he was interrupted three times with the ushering of his name. At first Samuel attributes the interruption to be attributed to some purpose between him and Eli. “Samuel, Samuel.” (1 Samuel 3:10) God further revealed Himself and His plans for Israel unto Samuel. The affirmation the following morning of this encounter was “It is the LORD” (v.18).

Perhaps you have been beckoned into the night of prayer and have missed the blessing of experiencing The God who never sleeps. As He has knocked and beckoned you, you have said, “I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?” (Song of Solomon 5:3) Perhaps The Spirit has graciously interrupted your rest that you may be blessed with interceding for a precious saint or lost soul that God’ power may be shown. It could be that your rest has been interrupted to hear His Word as the world is asleep, seek His face, meditate on His promises, and be revived in spirit to greater serve Him in humility. The next time you are restless in the night watch, find a mountain, climb it to the top, and pray to the God who never sleeps!

Sources Cited

The Holy Bible Authorized King James Version. R.L. Allan & Son Publishers.