Be Awake and Sober (2)

KW: darkness, day, overtake, thief

Walking in darkness means that we are unable to perceive danger. Thieves act under cover of darkness. They are dangerous and take what you love. The day of the Lord is like a thief in that it comes suddenly and brings destruction. It is a day of unusual darkness and judgment. It will attack people like a wild animal. You will feel trapped.

It’s the worst day of your life. From one animal to the next. It’ll get you. Pick your plague. God’s got options.

Thieves murder. Animals maul. Texas’ website for murderers on death row. Majority were thieves.

Also unusual that the ‘day’ is characterized by darkness. It refers to a time period, so more like an age. However, it is also true that hell is characterized by both fire and darkness. Black fire. Noise too.

The question is not whether the DOL is coming. It "will come” v. 2. The question is whether you are ready.

42 “Therefore stay awake, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Matt 24:42-44

POINT: You must prepare so that you will not be caught. Specific sense is “lay hold of, grasp” (e.g., John 8:3-4, caught in adultery).

ILLUSTRATION: Something pouncing or catching.

What are the dangers of darkness?

One of those things that cannot be created. Can’t make thinness, lightness, slowness. Absence of another.

Unfortunate combination of least awareness and greatest danger. Cultivates a fear of the unknown. Disorients.

Covers evil deeds John 3:19 (like thief), Rom 13:12, unfruitful deeds Eph 5:11, lawless deeds 2 Cor 6:14

Unusual characteristic of hell Jude 13, Mat 8:12, 22:13, 25:30; also Job 15:30 (Eliphaz), Job 20:26 (Zophar)

Dominion of Satan Acts 26:18, forces of darkness Eph 6:12, domain of Col 1:13,

One of the curses Deut 28:28-29 (good verse)

Rom 1:21, Eph 4:18 - darkened in understanding

BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN DARKNESS

What does ‘day’ mean?

Not the same as daylight savings time :)

THE DAY IS A BAD THING

14 Near is the great day of Yahweh,

Near and coming very quickly;

O the sound, the day of Yahweh!

In it the mighty man cries out bitterly.

15 A day of fury is that day,

A day of trouble and distress,

A day of destruction and desolation,

A day of darkness and thick darkness,

A day of clouds and dense gloom,

16 A day of trumpet and loud shouting

Against the fortified cities

And the high corner towers.

17 I will bring distress on men

So that they will walk like the blind

Because they have sinned against Yahweh;

And their blood will be poured out like dust

And their flesh like dung.

18 Neither their silver nor their gold

Will be able to deliver them

On the day of the fury of Yahweh;

And all the earth will be devoured

In the fire of His jealousy,

For He will make a complete destruction,

Indeed a terrifying one,

Of all the inhabitants of the earth. - Zeph 1:14-18

What kind of thieves did they have back then?

What is it like to be overtaken by a thief?

Unexpected, scary, disappointment of losing the things you love, dangerous

What is it like to be overtaken by the DOL?

18 Woe, you who are longing for the day of Yahweh,

For what purpose will the day of Yahweh be to you?

It will be darkness and not light;

19 As when a man flees from a lion

And a bear meets him;

Or he goes home, leans his hand against the wall,

And a snake bites him.

20 Will not the day of Yahweh be darkness instead of light,

Even thick darkness with no brightness in it? - Amos 5:18-20

You are sons of light

5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day.

KW: sons, light, day

“all” provides reassurance none are excluded, troubled believers comforted. Not like Jesus about betrayal when disciples say “is it me?”

What does it mean to be a son of something?

It means you act a certain way and are entitled to certain privileges

“Son of …” was a Hebraism commonly found in the New Testament to ascribe some quality to the person named (cf. Mark 3:17; John 17:12; Acts 4:36). // Sons of Thunder, son of perdition, Son of Encouragement

1, 2 Thessalonians ((3) The Christian Life Anticipating the Return (5:4–11))

It is certainly true that Christians should possess the qualities of an enlightened people. But the new creation and adoption terminology in Paul (Gal 3:26; 2 Cor 5:17) indicates that he did not use the language superficially. Children of light are true children of God. They have undergone a transformation that makes a new life (a life in the light) inevitable, not just preferable. Godliness for true sons of the light is not just a matter of appropriate actions; it is an outgrowth of their essential nature, their relationship to God.

^^you are, you don’t just act

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 6:26

You are the sons of Yahweh your God; you shall not gash yourselves nor shave your forehead for the sake of the dead. 2 For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Deut 14:1-2

31 So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Mat 23

What is the significance of light?

First element of the original creation, last description of the new creation

35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” / These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. 37 But though He had done so many signs before them, they still were not believing in Him, 38 so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and return and I heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke about Him… 44 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. John 12s

Not surprisingly, authors could describe Christian salvation as the passage from darkness to light (Acts 26:18; Eph. 5:8; Col. 1:13; 1 Pet. 2:9) and redemption as “being enlightened” (Heb. 6:4; 10:32). The Christian is one who has left the sinful life of “the darkness” and who lives in the light of holiness (Rom. 13:12; Eph. 5:8–9; 1 John 1:6; 2:10).

Those of darkness are characterized by a lack of responsiveness. Those who walk in the light respond to the realities that surround them. If you believe in Christ, then you become sons of Light and will not remain in darkness.

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, Eph 5s

What are the benefits of light?

It identifies you with God

You can respond to your surroundings

It protects you from danger

It brings clarity, accuracy, and precision

It encourages productivity rather than destruction

Why does he add day, after contrasting darkness and light?

Are we sons of DOL? No definite article.

Only use of the phrase in Scripture

POINT: The only way to get out of darkness and to become sons of light is to believe in THE Light, which is Jesus. You have done this, therefore, you must act like it. You must be imitators of God.

Do not sleep

We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do,

KW: night, darkness, sleep

Why does he add night?

Referenced in v. 2. Thieves come at night.

Not a condemnation of night owls (not evening vs morning)

Completes inversion of day/light. Switch from “you” to “we” further affirms the Thessalonians (after “all”) with emphasis.

What are the dangers of sleeping?

Even worse than darkness, less prepared

Miss good opportunities (like your stop on the metro)

Susceptible to temptation, Lk 22:46

Unprepared to give an answer, Mk 13:36, 14:40

Unable to defend yourself, Matt 13:25

Unresponsive / as good as dead, Matt 9:24, Mk 5:39, Lk 8:52

What are the appeals of sleeping? What causes us to fall asleep? Peer pressure?

Disciples in Gethsemane - Mk 14:34-42

See each other fall asleep. Yawning chain.

Watching each other fall asleep

Misunderstanding makes our brains tired

Just ate a big Passover feast together

Wanting to rest for a little bit (v. 41)

Delays. We think we can get away with a nap. Something in the meantime. Matt 24:48-51, Lk 12:45-46

Exhaustion of strength

Escape from responsibility / sorrow

Tired of waiting, Mt 25:5

Why is sleeping bad here but not in v. 10? A: Paul is explaining they should be concerned about spiritual sleep, not physical death. Spiritual sleep will prevent them from living together with Christ, but not falling asleep in Christ.

Be awake and sober

but let us be awake and sober.

KW: awake, sober

Watch and pray. How did the disciples feel about sleeping in Gethsemane after Jesus was crucified? Their last hours.

What does being awake mean?

What is the importance of staying awake?

Mk 13:32-37

Peace of mind, calmness, everything is done and ready

Not everything you can do, but everything that you should do

How can we stay awake?

Not procrastinating, not leaving until tomorrow what can be done today (and definitely not what should be done today)

Think about the different possibilities, what it would be like if Jesus returned at X time (Mk 13:35)

Awareness of the times and circumstances

What does being sober mean?

Michael Martin - only used figuratively in the NT [true] = sober-minded, self-controlled

The Letters to the Thessalonians (c. “Times and Dates” (5.1–11))

The verb means “to be sober” instead of drunk (cf. the use of the adjective in 1 Tim. 3:2 and Titus 2:2), but in the NT it always carries the metaphorical sense of exercising moral self-control or self-restraint and having clear thinking in the face of adversity or danger (2 Tim. 4:5; 1 Pet. 5:8), especially as Christ’s revelation and the end of all things approaches (1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7).

2 Tim 4:5, 1 Pet 5:8 - seem to indicate the idea of being safe in a particular space (e.g., in a house), but if you stray outside by foolishness, then you will suffer the consequences (see Cain, crouching, and mocker who Solomon put in a city and killed when he went searching for his slave).

1 Th 5:8 describes “sober” as faith, love, and hope. This is the safe space? Inside the armor?

What is the difference between being awake and sober?

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Ephesians–Philemon (Revised Edition) (Commentary)

To counteract what might become a state of wild alarm or panic, Paul urges self-control as a balance for vagaries arising from distorted views of the parousia.

How can we stay sober?

How do we do things we think we’re already doing?

Stay more awake?

Stay more sober?

Take heed when you think you stand

How much better off would the world be if everything you prayed for yesterday was true?

Prayer is the measure of how awake we are. Just like communication for sober

Here I am at church, sitting under teaching about being awake, pretty much the equivalent of spiritual caffeine

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Ephesians–Philemon (Revised Edition) Commentary

Though the Thessalonians were, if anything, overly watchful to the point of neglecting other Christian responsibilities (4:11–12; 2 Th 3:6–15), they were not to cease watching altogether.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Ephesians–Philemon (Revised Edition) Commentary

Though it is impossible for the day of the Lord to catch Christians unprepared, it is possible for them to adopt the same lifestyle as those who will be caught unawares. Paul urges his readers not to let this happen.

But why?

KW: drunk

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

Why is drunkenness brought up?

The Letters to the Thessalonians c. “Times and Dates” (5.1–11)

This is the opposite of the sobriety of the Christians described in the previous verse (see commentary) and means embracing hedonistic desires and giving oneself over to vice instead of living soberly and giving oneself to Christian virtues.

What does sleeping prove? You are in darkness. You don’t sleep in day.

The Letters to the Thessalonians c. “Times and Dates” (5.1–11)

Not a few ancient texts reflect how scandalous it was to get drunk during the day (Isa. 5:11; Eccl. 10:16; As. Mos. 7:4; Acts 2:15; 2 Pet. 2:13). Sobriety characterizes life during the day (Rom. 13:13), while the night is associated with a variety of sins. Before the time when city streets were brightly illuminated by streetlights, the night was thought to be a horrible and sinister time. While we might talk excitedly about “going out for the night,” they would speak about the night negatively and fearfully. In the NT, for example, the night is the time when the Lord was betrayed and denied (Matt. 26:34; John 13:30). The night is the time when evil people do their deeds. As Chrysostom commented, “For it is just as corrupt and wicked men do all things as in the night, escaping the notice of all, and enclosing themselves in darkness. For tell me, does not the adulterer watch for the evening, and the thief for the night? Does not the violator of the tombs carry on all his trade in the night?”

Walking in darkness means that we are unable to perceive danger. Thieves act under cover of darkness. They are dangerous and take what you love. The day of the Lord is like a thief in that it comes suddenly and brings destruction. It is a day of unusual darkness and judgment. It will attack people like a wild animal. You will feel trapped.

It’s the worst day of your life. From one animal to the next. It’ll get you. Pick your plague. God’s got options.

Thieves murder. Animals maul. Texas’ website for murderers on death row. Majority were thieves.

Also unusual that the ‘day’ is characterized by darkness. It refers to a time period, so more like an age. However, it is also true that hell is characterized by both fire and darkness. Black fire. Noise too.

The question is not whether the DOL is coming. It "will come” v. 2. The question is whether you are ready.

42 “Therefore stay awake, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Matt 24:42-44

POINT: You must prepare so that you will not be caught. Specific sense is “lay hold of, grasp” (e.g., John 8:3-4, caught in adultery).

ILLUSTRATION: Something pouncing or catching.

What are the dangers of darkness?

One of those things that cannot be created. Can’t make thinness, lightness, slowness. Absence of another.

Unfortunate combination of least awareness and greatest danger. Cultivates a fear of the unknown. Disorients.

Covers evil deeds John 3:19 (like thief), Rom 13:12, unfruitful deeds Eph 5:11, lawless deeds 2 Cor 6:14

Unusual characteristic of hell Jude 13, Mat 8:12, 22:13, 25:30; also Job 15:30 (Eliphaz), Job 20:26 (Zophar)

Dominion of Satan Acts 26:18, forces of darkness Eph 6:12, domain of Col 1:13,

One of the curses Deut 28:28-29 (good verse)

Rom 1:21, Eph 4:18 - darkened in understanding

BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN DARKNESS

What does ‘day’ mean?

Not the same as daylight savings time :)

THE DAY IS A BAD THING

14 Near is the great day of Yahweh,

Near and coming very quickly;

O the sound, the day of Yahweh!

In it the mighty man cries out bitterly.

15 A day of fury is that day,

A day of trouble and distress,

A day of destruction and desolation,

A day of darkness and thick darkness,

A day of clouds and dense gloom,

16 A day of trumpet and loud shouting

Against the fortified cities

And the high corner towers.

17 I will bring distress on men

So that they will walk like the blind

Because they have sinned against Yahweh;

And their blood will be poured out like dust

And their flesh like dung.

18 Neither their silver nor their gold

Will be able to deliver them

On the day of the fury of Yahweh;

And all the earth will be devoured

In the fire of His jealousy,

For He will make a complete destruction,

Indeed a terrifying one,

Of all the inhabitants of the earth. - Zeph 1:14-18

What kind of thieves did they have back then?

What is it like to be overtaken by a thief?

Unexpected, scary, disappointment of losing the things you love, dangerous

What is it like to be overtaken by the DOL?

18 Woe, you who are longing for the day of Yahweh,

For what purpose will the day of Yahweh be to you?

It will be darkness and not light;

19 As when a man flees from a lion

And a bear meets him;

Or he goes home, leans his hand against the wall,

And a snake bites him.

20 Will not the day of Yahweh be darkness instead of light,

Even thick darkness with no brightness in it? - Amos 5:18-20

You are sons of light

5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day.

KW: sons, light, day

“all” provides reassurance none are excluded, troubled believers comforted. Not like Jesus about betrayal when disciples say “is it me?”

What does it mean to be a son of something?

It means you act a certain way and are entitled to certain privileges

“Son of …” was a Hebraism commonly found in the New Testament to ascribe some quality to the person named (cf. Mark 3:17; John 17:12; Acts 4:36). // Sons of Thunder, son of perdition, Son of Encouragement

1, 2 Thessalonians (3) The Christian Life Anticipating the Return (5:4–11)

It is certainly true that Christians should possess the qualities of an enlightened people. But the new creation and adoption terminology in Paul (Gal 3:26; 2 Cor 5:17) indicates that he did not use the language superficially. Children of light are true children of God. They have undergone a transformation that makes a new life (a life in the light) inevitable, not just preferable. Godliness for true sons of the light is not just a matter of appropriate actions; it is an outgrowth of their essential nature, their relationship to God.

^^you are, you don’t just act

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 6:26

You are the sons of Yahweh your God; you shall not gash yourselves nor shave your forehead for the sake of the dead. 2 For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Deut 14:1-2

31 So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Mat 23

What is the significance of light?

First element of the original creation, last description of the new creation

35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” / These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. 37 But though He had done so many signs before them, they still were not believing in Him, 38 so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and return and I heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke about Him… 44 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. John 12s

Not surprisingly, authors could describe Christian salvation as the passage from darkness to light (Acts 26:18; Eph. 5:8; Col. 1:13; 1 Pet. 2:9) and redemption as “being enlightened” (Heb. 6:4; 10:32). The Christian is one who has left the sinful life of “the darkness” and who lives in the light of holiness (Rom. 13:12; Eph. 5:8–9; 1 John 1:6; 2:10).

Those of darkness are characterized by a lack of responsiveness. Those who walk in the light respond to the realities that surround them. If you believe in Christ, then you become sons of Light and will not remain in darkness.

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, Eph 5s

What are the benefits of light?

It identifies you with God

You can respond to your surroundings

It protects you from danger

It brings clarity, accuracy, and precision

It encourages productivity rather than destruction

Why does he add day, after contrasting darkness and light?

Are we sons of DOL? No definite article.

Only use of the phrase in Scripture

POINT: The only way to get out of darkness and to become sons of light is to believe in THE Light, which is Jesus. You have done this, therefore, you must act like it. You must be imitators of God.

Do not sleep

We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do,

KW: night, darkness, sleep

Why does he add night?

Referenced in v. 2. Thieves come at night.

Not a condemnation of night owls (not evening vs morning)

Completes inversion of day/light. Switch from “you” to “we” further affirms the Thessalonians (after “all”) with emphasis.

What are the dangers of sleeping?

Even worse than darkness, less prepared

Miss good opportunities (like your stop on the metro)

Susceptible to temptation, Lk 22:46

Unprepared to give an answer, Mk 13:36, 14:40

Unable to defend yourself, Matt 13:25

Unresponsive / as good as dead, Matt 9:24, Mk 5:39, Lk 8:52

What are the appeals of sleeping? What causes us to fall asleep? Peer pressure?

Disciples in Gethsemane - Mk 14:34-42

See each other fall asleep. Yawning chain.

Watching each other fall asleep

Misunderstanding makes our brains tired

Just ate a big Passover feast together

Wanting to rest for a little bit (v. 41)

Delays. We think we can get away with a nap. Something in the meantime. Matt 24:48-51, Lk 12:45-46

Exhaustion of strength

Escape from responsibility / sorrow

Tired of waiting, Mt 25:5

Why is sleeping bad here but not in v. 10? A: Paul is explaining they should be concerned about spiritual sleep, not physical death. Spiritual sleep will prevent them from living together with Christ, but not falling asleep in Christ.

Be awake and sober

but let us be awake and sober.

KW: awake, sober

Watch and pray. How did the disciples feel about sleeping in Gethsemane after Jesus was crucified? Their last hours.

What does being awake mean?

What is the importance of staying awake?

Mk 13:32-37

Peace of mind, calmness, everything is done and ready

Not everything you can do, but everything that you should do

How can we stay awake?

Not procrastinating, not leaving until tomorrow what can be done today (and definitely not what should be done today)

Think about the different possibilities, what it would be like if Jesus returned at X time (Mk 13:35)

Awareness of the times and circumstances

What does being sober mean?

Michael Martin - only used figuratively in the NT [true] = sober-minded, self-controlled

The Letters to the Thessalonians (c. “Times and Dates” (5.1–11))

The verb means “to be sober” instead of drunk (cf. the use of the adjective in 1 Tim. 3:2 and Titus 2:2), but in the NT it always carries the metaphorical sense of exercising moral self-control or self-restraint and having clear thinking in the face of adversity or danger (2 Tim. 4:5; 1 Pet. 5:8), especially as Christ’s revelation and the end of all things approaches (1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7).

2 Tim 4:5, 1 Pet 5:8 - seem to indicate the idea of being safe in a particular space (e.g., in a house), but if you stray outside by foolishness, then you will suffer the consequences (see Cain, crouching, and mocker who Solomon put in a city and killed when he went searching for his slave).

1 Th 5:8 describes “sober” as faith, love, and hope. This is the safe space? Inside the armor?

What is the difference between being awake and sober?

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Ephesians–Philemon (Revised Edition) Commentary

To counteract what might become a state of wild alarm or panic, Paul urges self-control as a balance for vagaries arising from distorted views of the parousia.

How can we stay sober?

How do we do things we think we’re already doing?

Stay more awake?

Stay more sober?

Take heed when you think you stand

How much better off would the world be if everything you prayed for yesterday was true?

Prayer is the measure of how awake we are. Just like communication for sober

Here I am at church, sitting under teaching about being awake, pretty much the equivalent of spiritual caffeine

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Ephesians–Philemon (Revised Edition) Commentary

Though the Thessalonians were, if anything, overly watchful to the point of neglecting other Christian responsibilities (4:11–12; 2 Th 3:6–15), they were not to cease watching altogether.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Ephesians–Philemon (Revised Edition) Commentary

Though it is impossible for the day of the Lord to catch Christians unprepared, it is possible for them to adopt the same lifestyle as those who will be caught unawares. Paul urges his readers not to let this happen.

But why?

KW: drunk

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

Why is drunkenness brought up?

The Letters to the Thessalonians c. “Times and Dates” (5.1–11)

This is the opposite of the sobriety of the Christians described in the previous verse (see commentary) and means embracing hedonistic desires and giving oneself over to vice instead of living soberly and giving oneself to Christian virtues.

What does sleeping prove? You are in darkness. You don’t sleep in day.

The Letters to the Thessalonians c. “Times and Dates” (5.1–11)

Not a few ancient texts reflect how scandalous it was to get drunk during the day (Isa. 5:11; Eccl. 10:16; As. Mos. 7:4; Acts 2:15; 2 Pet. 2:13). Sobriety characterizes life during the day (Rom. 13:13), while the night is associated with a variety of sins. Before the time when city streets were brightly illuminated by streetlights, the night was thought to be a horrible and sinister time. While we might talk excitedly about “going out for the night,” they would speak about the night negatively and fearfully. In the NT, for example, the night is the time when the Lord was betrayed and denied (Matt. 26:34; John 13:30). The night is the time when evil people do their deeds. As Chrysostom commented, “For it is just as corrupt and wicked men do all things as in the night, escaping the notice of all, and enclosing themselves in darkness. For tell me, does not the adulterer watch for the evening, and the thief for the night? Does not the violator of the tombs carry on all his trade in the night?”