The day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 MKJV
But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you.
(2)  For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
(3)  For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape.
(4)  But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief.
(5)  You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness.
(6)  Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm.

Do you know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night? Do you understand what this Hebrew idiom actually means?

Psalms 134:1 MKJV
Behold, bless Yehovah, all servants of Yehovah, who stand by night in the house of Yehovah.

In the Temple of Yehovah, a priest was posted every night to fulfill his sworn duty of ensuring the last sacrifice for the current day was completely consumed. He also had to guard the fire on the altar to where it was kept burning perpetually throughout the night so as to be ready for the next morning’s sacrifice. The fire was not supposed to ever go out for any reason.

Sometimes, the priest on duty would become tired and sleepy during his vigil, halfway through the night. But, if the last sacrifice was consumed and the flame were still brightly burning, he might catch a moment’s rest while waiting to revive the fire.

Throughout the night until daybreak, he would repeatedly wake up every now and then to stoke the fire by adding wood and fanning the flames before falling asleep again.

Unfortunately, it was entirely possible for a given priest on duty to fall asleep totally, failing to perform his responsibilities of keeping the fire burning. As a result, the fire could foreseeably go out.

Here then, is where the thief in the night dynamic factors in.

Sometimes, during the night watches, the High Priest would enter into the Temple very quietly like a thief to check in on and ensure the priest on duty was fulfilling his nightly duties. He might be accompanied by his faithful assistant.

First, the High Priest and his assistant would check the fire to see whether or not the flames were still burning. If necessary, they would stoke the fire, add some wood, and fan the flames.

If the priest who was supposed to be on duty was sleeping, the High Priest would take an ember of coal from the fire and sneak quietly up to the sleeping priest. He would then place the burning coal on the garment of the sleeping priest. When his clothes were on fire, the priest would wake up. He would have no choice but to rip them off.

Revelation 16:15 MKJV
Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.

Are you watching for the day of the Lord?

1 Thessalonians 5:6 MKJV
Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm.

Watch… and be calm.

Let’s now explore: When do you take the time to calmly watch?