Definition and Context
Waking, in the biblical context, refers to the act of rising from sleep, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. It is often associated with spiritual alertness, readiness, and the call to be vigilant in one's faith and actions. The concept of waking is used throughout Scripture to encourage believers to remain spiritually awake and prepared for the coming of the Lord.

Biblical References

1. Literal Waking
The Bible frequently mentions waking in the context of physical sleep. For instance, in the Gospels, Jesus often woke early to pray and seek solitude with the Father. Mark 1:35 states, "Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray." This act of waking early underscores the importance of prioritizing spiritual disciplines.

2. Spiritual Waking
The metaphorical use of waking is prevalent in the New Testament, where it serves as a call to spiritual vigilance. Romans 13:11 exhorts believers, "And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Here, waking is a metaphor for spiritual awareness and readiness for the return of Christ.

3. Parables and Teachings
Jesus often used parables to illustrate the importance of being spiritually awake. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the wise virgins are those who remain awake and prepared for the bridegroom's arrival. This parable emphasizes the necessity of being spiritually alert and prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven.

4. Old Testament References
The Old Testament also contains references to waking, often in the context of God's call to His people. In Isaiah 52:1 , the prophet declares, "Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion; put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city." This call to wake is an invitation to renewal and restoration, urging the people of God to rise from their spiritual lethargy.

5. Apostolic Writings
The apostles continued this theme, urging the early church to remain vigilant. In 1 Thessalonians 5:6 , Paul writes, "So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober." This exhortation highlights the need for constant spiritual alertness in anticipation of the Lord's return.

Theological Implications

Waking, as a biblical theme, carries significant theological implications. It serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly life and the urgency of spiritual readiness. The call to wake is a call to repentance, renewal, and active faith. It challenges believers to live in the light of eternity, fully aware of the spiritual realities that surround them.

Practical Application

In practical terms, waking involves cultivating a lifestyle of prayer, study of Scripture, and active engagement in the Christian community. It requires believers to be discerning of the times and to live with an eternal perspective. The discipline of waking early for prayer and reflection, as modeled by Jesus, can be a powerful practice for spiritual growth and preparedness.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of waking is a profound call to spiritual vigilance and readiness. It is a theme that resonates throughout Scripture, urging believers to rise from spiritual slumber and live in the light of Christ's imminent return.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Wake.

2. (n.) The act of waking, or the state or period of being awake.

3. (n.) A watch; a watching.

1454. egersis -- a rousing, a rising (from death)
... a rising (from death). Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: egersis Phonetic
Spelling: (eg'-er-sis) Short Definition: a waking up, resurrection ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1454.htm - 6k5894. ir -- waking or wakeful one
... 5893, 5894. ir. 5895 . waking or wakeful one. Transliteration: ir Phonetic
Spelling: (eer) Short Definition: watcher. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/5894.htm - 6k

8109. shemurah -- eyelid
... waking. Feminine of passive participle of shamar; something guarded, ie An eye-lid --
waking. see HEBREW shamar. 8108, 8109. shemurah. 8110 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/8109.htm - 6k

5892. iyr -- excitement
... Or (in the plural) par {awr}; or ayar (Judges 10:4) {aw-yar'}; from uwr a city
(a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere ...
/hebrew/5892.htm - 5k

Sleeping and Waking
... Sleeping and Waking. CPC Isaiah 26:19. We slept"a sleep of death, and yet of
dreams,. Fair dreams that pass, and sad dreams that abide,. ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen suso and others/sleeping and waking.htm

Jacob's Waking Exclamation
... Jacob's Waking Exclamation. A Sermon (No.401). Delivered on Sunday Morning, July
the 21st, 1861 by the. Rev. CH SPURGEON,. At the Metropolitan ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/jacobs waking exclamation.htm

Come, My Soul, Thou must be Waking
... I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Daily Prayer: Morning 3. Come, my soul, thou must be waking.
8.4.7.8.4.7 ... Tr. Henry J. Buckoll, 1838. Come, my soul, thou must be waking. ...
/.../daily prayer morning 3 come.htm

The Teaching of Contemplative Life in Praying, Meditating, Fasting ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER II THE TEACHING OF CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE IN PRAYING, MEDITATING, FASTING,
AND WAKING: AND OF THE PROUD CONTEMPLATIVE: AND OF TRUE AND VERY GHOSTLY ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter ii the teaching of.htm

Verily Thou Enjoinest Me Continency from the Lust of the Flesh...
... Yea, so far prevails the illusion of the image, in my soul and in my flesh, that,
when asleep, false visions persuade to that which when waking, the true cannot ...
/.../the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xxx verily thou enjoinest.htm

Of the Perverse Images of Dreams, which He Wishes to have Taken ...
... the illusion of the image, both in my soul and in my flesh, that the false persuade
me, when sleeping, unto that which the true are not able when waking. ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xxx of the perverse images.htm

Because Thou Hast Forsaken the Solace and the Joy of this World...
... Nevertheless, then he suffers them to be tempted in sore manners, both waking and
sleeping. ... But their remedy shall be: Prayer: Weeping: Fasting: Waking. ...
/.../chapter ii because thou hast.htm

My Dream Message
... are like our day thoughts, except that our faculties being partly asleep, our dreams
usually lack the coherence and the reasonableness of our waking thoughts. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk twenty-five my dream message.htm

Psalm LXIII.
... I say, saith to certain persons, "Rise, thou that sleepest, and rise up from the
dead, and Christ shall enlighten thee." [2462] Was the Apostle waking up one ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxiii.htm

The Image and the Stone
... The colossal image, seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, was a reproduction of those
which met his waking eyes, and still remain for our wonder in our museums. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the image and the stone.htm

Waking (2 Occurrences)
... n.) of Wake. 2. (n.) The act of waking, or the state or period of being awake. 3.
(n.) A watch; a watching. Multi-Version Concordance Waking (2 Occurrences). ...
/w/waking.htm - 7k

Dreamer (4 Occurrences)
... connected trains of thought occur, and if, as frequently happens, there is momentary
connection, but little connection with normal waking experience, it will ...
/d/dreamer.htm - 18k

Dream (82 Occurrences)
... connected trains of thought occur, and if, as frequently happens, there is momentary
connection, but little connection with normal waking experience, it will ...
/d/dream.htm - 47k

Vision (106 Occurrences)
... un (chazon, chizzayon, mar'ah; horama, optasia): Psychologists find that man is
prevailingly and persistently "eye-minded." That is, in his waking life he is ...
/v/vision.htm - 45k

Waketh (8 Occurrences)

/w/waketh.htm - 8k

Vigil (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) Hence, devotional watching; waking for prayer, or other religious exercises.
3. (vi) Originally, the watch kept on the night before a feast. ...
/v/vigil.htm - 7k

Gifts (144 Occurrences)
... spiritual, of the control of the bodily functions by the subconscious self, and
of the physician's ability by means of suggestion, whether waking or hypnotic ...
/g/gifts.htm - 61k

Wake (34 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To watch, or sit up with, at night, as a dead body. 10. (n.) The act
of waking, or being awaked; also, the state of being awake. 11. ...
/w/wake.htm - 17k

Rouses (2 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 14:9 Sheol beneath hath been troubled at thee, To meet thy coming in, It
is waking up for thee Rephaim, All chiefs ones of earth, It hath raised up from ...
/r/rouses.htm - 6k

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