The Night Watches
The significance of the midnight hours transcend my knowledge and understanding, yet God's word gives us insight. Along with the other watches of the night, the midnight has great significance according to scripture.
There are four three-hour periods of the nighttime spoken of in scripture called "watches." Mark 13:35 mentions all four; namely, “even,” "midnight," "cock-crowing," and "morning."
>The evening watch is from 6 to 9 pm.
>The midnight watch is from 9 pm to midnight.
>The cock-crowing is from 12 to 3 am.
>The morning watch is from 3 to 6 am.
David declared, “I am awake through each watch of the night to meditate on Your promise” in Psalm 119:148 (Holman Christian Standard Bible).
The Midnight Watch
Revelation manifests during the midnight hours. Scripture reveals that our Lord will come [reveal Himself] in the second or the third watch. Luke 12:38 states, "And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants." This is great revelation for those who have their loins gird about and their lights burning.
The cry of the midnight brings awakening and revival. Matthew 25:6 says that a cry went out at midnight: “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.” It was the midnight cry that awakened the ten virgins to come meet the bridegroom.
The midnight hour is a time of great defense. In Exodus 11:4, we see that the Lord Himself said that He was going out in the midst of Egypt, and it was in the midnight that He struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.
The midnight hour is a time of release. One of the well-known verses of scripture found in Acts 16:25-26 reveals to us the power of prayer and praise during the midnight hours. We see the shaking of foundations, the opening of prison doors, and the loosing of bands because of the prayers and praises of Paul and Silas.
The midnight hours are the time of release, freedom, and overruling. It is also the time when deep sleep falls upon men (Acts 20:7-12; Matthew 13:25), and so we conclude that evil activity increases during these hours. Midnight prayer releases prophetic revelation and angelic intervention, and it overrules satanic activity.
"I will bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my conscience instructs me." - Psalm 16:7
"My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word." -Psalm 119:148
"When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches." - Psalm 63:6
"In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name, and I will keep Your law." -Psalm 119:55
"My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit within me diligently seeks You." -Isaiah 26:9a
Janice