Why this ancient meditative method MAY be bad for your health (Part 2)

The other day I discussed biphasic sleep. If you missed it, read it here: https://bluechurchbook.beehiiv.com/p/whythisancientmeditativemethodmaybebadforyourhealth

Here's a LM podcast I generated to discuss this further:

So I decided to look up some of the bible scriptures, from an anthropological perspective, that may give us some clues to this ancient practice:

• Psalm 119:62 – "At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws."

  • This verse shows that the Psalmist wakes up in the middle of the night to pray, indicating an interruption in sleep, which may indicate a biphasic sleep model.

• Proverbs 31:15 – "She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens."

  • This verse indicates that the virtuous woman wakes up during the night to care for her household, prepare food, and manage her responsibilities. Her wakefulness at night aligns with the concept of biphasic sleep, as it reflects the idea of waking for productive tasks during what could be considered a nighttime period

• Acts 16:25 – "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."

  • Paul and Silas were awake at midnight, praying and praising God while in prison, demonstrating that nighttime was also a time for spiritual activity.

• Luke 11:57 – "Then Jesus said to them, 'Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him." And suppose the one inside answers, "Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything."'"

  • In this parable, a person goes to ask for bread at midnight, which suggests that midnight interruptions were not entirely unusual.

• Lamentations 2:19 – "Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner."

  • This verse calls for prayer and supplication during the night, reflecting the spiritual significance of nighttime in biblical thought.

• Psalm 63:6 – "On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night."

  • The Psalmist speaks of meditating on God during the night, reflecting a pattern of wakefulness and spiritual reflection.

• Luke 6:12 – "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God."

  • Jesus himself spent entire nights in prayer, showing that prayer and communion with God at night were an important part of His spiritual practice.

• Psalm 42:8 – "By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life."

  • The Psalmist mentions that even during the night, his prayer and song are with God, indicating nighttime was a time for prayer and worship.

• Psalm 77:6 – "I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked."

  • This verse shows the Psalmist reflecting and meditating on God’s goodness and promises during the night, suggesting that the night hours were conducive to spiritual contemplation.

• Psalm 119:148 – "My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises."

  • This passage highlights a deliberate act of staying awake during the night to meditate on God's Word and promises.

• Isaiah 26:9 – "My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness."

  • The prophet Isaiah speaks of his soul longing for God during the night, indicating that nighttime was a time for deep spiritual yearning and prayer.

• Job 35:10 – "But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?’"

  • This verse highlights the practice of spiritual activity, such as singing to God, during the night, which could imply prayer and meditation as well.

COMING SOON!!!

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In today’s society, many people experience fragmented sleep due to stress, irregular schedules, and artificial light, leading to poor-quality rest. While biphasic sleep worked for pre-industrial societies with natural light and fewer time constraints, it can disrupt modern individuals' sleep cycles. Constant interruptions to deep sleep can prevent restorative stages, impair cognitive function, increase stress, and negatively affect overall health. A continuous, unbroken sleep cycle is usually more aligned with modern work-life demands, promoting better health and alertness.

So again, although midnight prayer, singing, and meditation is an ancient biblical practice, modern science tells us that most of us need to sleep in solid blocks of deep sleep. So then, even if we cant duplicate the exact direct biblical practice, we can, however, imitate the concept, of having specific times devoted to prayer and meditation throughout the day. I highly recommend doing it with the church universal as much as is possible.

The traditional Christian practice of daily prayer is structured around set hours, known as the Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office, observed by many churches, especially in monastic communities and liturgical traditions. These prayer hours trace their origins back to Jewish prayer practices and are designed to sanctify the day with prayer. Here are the common prayer hours in the Church, with names and general times associated with them. this is a generalized list, as names and times may vary depending on the church:

1. Matins (Vigils) or Midnight Office

 Time: Midnight or predawn (around 12:00 AM–3:00 AM).

 Description: A time of vigil, symbolizing waiting for the Lord's return. In monastic traditions, this can be a long service of scripture readings, psalms, and prayers.

2. Lauds (Morning Prayer)

 Time: Early morning, at dawn (around 5:00 AM–6:00 AM).

 Description: The first prayer of the day after the night, a time to give praise to God and thank Him for the new day. It often includes the "Benedictus" (Luke 1:6879) and psalms of thanksgiving.

3. Prime (First Hour)

 Time: Around 6:00 AM.

 Description: Once used in monastic settings, this prayer was said at the first hour of daylight. While it has been mostly suppressed in modern liturgies, some traditional communities still observe it.

4. Terce (Third Hour)

 Time: Midmorning, around 9:00 AM.

 Description: This hour recalls the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which occurred at the third hour of the day. It is a time for a brief, focused prayer.

5. Sext (Sixth Hour)

 Time: Noon, around 12:00 PM.

 Description: Midday prayer, a time for reflection on Christ’s crucifixion and the need for perseverance during the heat of the day. It recalls when Jesus was on the cross from the sixth hour (Mark 15:33).

6. None (Ninth Hour)

 Time: Midafternoon, around 3:00 PM.

 Description: This hour commemorates Christ’s death at the ninth hour (3:00 PM). It’s a prayer for strength as the day starts to wind down and reflects on the Passion.

7. Vespers (Evening Prayer)

 Time: Sunset, around 5:00 PM–7:00 PM.

 Description: An evening prayer of thanksgiving for the day that has passed, with psalms, hymns, and the "Magnificat" (Luke 1:4655). It’s one of the most important hours in the liturgy.

8. Compline (Night Prayer)

 Time: Before retiring for the night (around 7:00 PM–9:00 PM).

 Description: The final prayer of the day, asking for protection during the night. It includes the "Nunc Dimittis" (Luke 2:2932) and psalms calling for God's peace and safety through the night.

Other Variations:

 Midnight Office: In some Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions, this office is a distinct service held around midnight.

 Morning and Evening Prayer: In the Anglican tradition, these hours may correspond to Matins (Morning Prayer) and Evensong (Evening Prayer).

These prayer hours serve to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17), marking key points throughout the day with times of prayer, psalms, and scripture, aligning daily life with the rhythm of God's presence.