Saturday of Lent 4

 All Praise to thee, My God, this Night- Lutheran Service Book #883

Psalm 92:1-2; Psalm 4:8; Psalm 91

Oh, may my soul in Thee repose

And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close,

Sleep that shall me more vig’rous make

To serve my God when I awake!

The act of going to sleep is an act of relinquishment–hence, we ask that our soul may rest on God as we are replenished.  But ultimately, such rest is an intermediate state, not to be pursued for its own sake, but only for the vigor and energy that it brings to live out our lives for God -

O Lord, support us all the day long of this troubled life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then, Lord, in Your mercy grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at last; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.[1]

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[1] Lutheran Service Book, Collect at the end of the day © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis