Psalm 149:5 - Bedtime Singing

The other day we looked at Psalm 63:6, "When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches." Elsewhere, the psalms talk about meditating on God from ones bed, day OR night. (Psalm 4:4)

If "meditating on God" conjures up unhappy images of scowling, holier-than-thou people... then they are people who are meditating about the wrong god. An opposite picture is painted: someone falling asleep with a smile on their face.

Maybe you wake up at 3 AM in the morning. Or maybe you're in bed at 3 PM in the afternoon because you are recuperating or simply napping.  Regardless, Psalm 139:18 is still true: "When I awake, I am still with You, God."

Psalm 149:5 takes it a step beyond bedtime meditations about God.
"Let the godly ones exult in glory; Let them sing for joy on their beds."

That doesn't mean you have to start singing hymns and disturb others' sleep.  

Ephesians 5:19 says we are to sing and "make melody with your heart to the Lord." It's not about the singing, anyway. First and foremost it's about having a joyful heart. One can think about songs without necessarily singing them aloud.

Maybe you can't remember any lyrics when you're half awake. Maybe all you can remember is the first phrase of "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound..." or "Our Father who is in heaven..." The important thing is to find complete joy in God's presence (Psalm 16:11), whenever and wherever that may be. 

Our Father in heaven, I'm so glad that You never fall asleep. I'm grateful that when I can't fall asleep, or wake up in the middle of the night, You're still there. I want that to be where my mind drifts while I'm still in bed: singing in my heart because You are with me. In Jesus' name, Amen.