For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
Truth to Learn
Unbelievers like the spiritual darkness they live in.
Behind the Words
The words “those who sleep” are from the verb katheudō, which we saw in yesterday’s verse. This form of the verb is a present active participle, which indicates action which is current and ongoing. Literally, we could render this as “those who are sleeping.”
“Those who get drunk” is translated from methuskō. This word is based on methē , which refers to “wine which has fermented so that it contains alcohol,” and by implication it refers to any intoxicating drink. Methuskō, therefore, refers to “drinking an alcoholic drink,” and by extension “getting intoxicated.” It is expressed here as a present passive participle, so literally it means “those who are continually getting intoxicated.”
The words “are drunk” is a different form of the root methē. It is methuō, which is a more definitive word implying not just intoxicated, but completely drunk.
Meaning Explained
Paul has been teaching about the rapture and the Day of the Lord (the tribulation). We learned a few verses ago that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (quietly, while the world is sleeping is spiritual darkness). We also learned earlier that the rapture will come as a noisy event, and it will occur before the Day of the Lord. He also told us that we Christians will not be surprised by the coming of the Day of the Lord because we are not in spiritual darkness. We are sons of light because we are God’s children and we have been spiritually enlightened. Paul spends several verses showing the contrast between us (children of light and of the day) and unbelievers (those who are of the night, who are in spiritual darkness).
Early in Jesus’ ministry, when he had his famous discussion with Nicodemus about being born-again, he also said this:
"He who believes in Him [the Son of God] is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." (John 3:18-21)
In today’s verse Paul says a little more about those who are in darkness. At night they sleep and at night they get drunk. They are not spiritually awake because they like the darkened spiritual state they are in. Also, unbelievers prefer darkness (both physical and spiritual) because that’s when they can practice their evil deeds, thinking they won’t be noticed. Unfortunately for them, God sees even the deeds they do in the darkness, and He will judge them for their deeds.
Application
Often, when people get saved their “friends” don’t want to be associated with them. It’s because a Christian is a child of light and their “friends” prefer the darkness. Let your light shine and don’t worry about what your former “friends” think and say about you!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved