Exegetical Psychology 

An Introduction

Under Construction

Exegetical Psychology Defined

I have an interest in learning from the Bible how to live more Godly every day. People seem to know very little about what God revealed about the psychology of man. Words like understanding, heart, mind, soul, and many others require careful study and attention. Exegetical Psychology will produce Exegetical Therapy for helping people glorify God by living more abundant lives. Exegetical Counseling will put Exegetical Therapy into practice with people.

I will use the term Exegetical Psychology to describe a particular psychology revealed only in the Bible (sixty-six books in the Old Testament and New Testament). Exegetical Psychology represents a branch of Theology generally, in the sense that God created all things. For my purposes, I define the term “Exegetical Psychology” to mean psychology gleaned from careful and accurate study of the Bible. Its subjects include all beings described in the Bible, not only God and man, and their ways and interactions.

Exegetical Psychology Distinctives

Exegetical Psychology distinctly relies upon the original autographs of the Bible, consisting of sixty six books contained in the Old and New Testaments. It rests upon the verbal, plenary inspiration of the original texts. God breathed out the Bible, using individual authors writing from different millennia in their own languages, with varying grammar, syntax and styles. The entire content of Exegetical Theology already resides in the perfect revelation from God contained in the Bible.

Exegetical Psychology Applications

Exegetical psychology produces

With those introductions in place, let me present a basic sychologists and others have conducted research into sleep for millennia. We spend a lot of time sleeping. In this study, I will review some basic Bible verses about sleep. Please keep in mind that God inspired the authors of the Bible, so that God breathed out His words through them. Each author employed vocabulary, syntax and style to communicate the revelation of God. God inspired all the words in the original autographs of the authors. Therefore, we will spend some time investigating various words related to sleep in the Bible. Nothing about this study attempts to be exhaustive, but merely a review of a few Bible verses related to sleep. As we understand the spiritual aspect of sleep, we will understand how to improve our sleep.

God Controls Sleep

God controls sleep. He can use sleep for various purposes. 

Adam–Creation. In the Garden of Eden, God caused a deep sleep((“תַּרְדֵּמָ֛ה”)) to fall ((וַיַּפֵּל֩–Hiphil with waw consecutive–causative)) to fall upon Adam so that God could remove a rib from Adam and created Eve. ((Genesis 2:21))

Abraham–Covenant. And the sun was going down, and a deep sleep ((“וְתַרְדֵּמָ֖ה“–waw consecutive)) fell ((נָפְלָ֣ה–qal perfect)) upon Abraham; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him ((וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵימָ֛ה חֲשֵׁכָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה נֹפֶ֥לֶת עָלָֽיו)). As Abraham slept, God spoke to Abraham about the covenant concerning a nation, land, slavery, and freedom, and the life and death of Abraham. ((Genesis 15:12-16)).  

Jacob–Ladder. And Jacob had a dream, ((“וַֽיַּחֲלֹ֗ם”)) and saw a ladder set on earth and reaching to heaven. Angels were ascending and descending on it. Yahweh confirmed to Jacob that He would give him he land he laid upon and his descendants like the dust of the earth, with all the families of earth blessed by Yahweh.

Losing Sleep

Humans require sleep, but stress can keep interfere with sleep.

Sleep Flees.  Jacob watched the sheep for Laban, and the heat consumed him by day and the frost by night. He said: “and fled ((וַתִּדַּ֥ד)) my sleep ((“שְׁנָתִ֖י”)) from my eyes. ((Genesis 31:40))

Royal Insomnia. Sleep ((שְׁנַ֣ת)) fled ((נָדְדָ֖ה)) from King Ahasuerus after he granted an edict to kill all the Jews. His mind focused upon Mordecai the Jew, and the faithful service he rendered in saving the king’s life. After reviewing the official records, King Ahasuerus honored Mordecai, thwarting the plans of Haman to kill him. ((Esther 6:1-2).

also 

Sleeping through Danger

Peaceful Sleep during Danger. David proclaimed: In peace ((בְּשָׁלֹ֣ום)) I will both lie down and sleep ((וְאִ֫ישָׁ֥ן)), for You alone, Yahweh, in safety causes me to dwell. ((לָ֝בֶ֗טַח תֹּושִׁיבֵֽנִי–Psalm 4:8))

As Jonah fled from the calling of God, he slept aboard a ship through a raging storm.((Jonah 1:6–נִרְדָּ֑ם))  Jesus also slept through a storm at sea. As the gale rose and seas raged, fear gripped the disciples while Jesus slept on a cushion in the stern of the boat. ((The Greek word for sleep here is “καθεύδων”–Mark 4:38))

David’s Tools for Peaceful Sleep (Psalm 4)

1. Count upon the God of your righteousness to answer when you call.

2. Notice when God relieves you of your distress.

3. Rely upon the grace of God so that God will hear your prayer.

4. Trust that God sets apart the Godly man for Himself; Yahweh hears when I call to Him.

5. Trembling is o.k., but do not sin.

6. Meditate in your heart upon your bed.

7. Be still.

8. Offer sacrifices of righteousness.

9. Trust in Yahweh.

10. When others want God to do good to them, you ask Yahweh to lift up the light of HIs countenance upon us.

11. Recognie that God has put gladness in your heart, better than wine.

12. The you both lie down and sleep, for Yahweh alone, makes you dwell in safety.

God also caused enemies to fall into a deep sleep. ((At God’s rebuke, both rider and horse were cast into a deep sleep (“מִ֭גַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב נִ֝רְדָּ֗ם וְרֶ֣כֶב וָסֽוּס”) –Psalm 76:7.))

NAU Genesis 2:21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.

xQ;YIw: !v’yYIw: ~d’a’h’-l[; hm’Der>T; ~yhil{a/ hw”hy> lPeY:w: WTT Genesis 2:21

`hN”T,x.T; rf’B’ rGOs.YIw: wyt'[ol.C;mi tx;a;

NAU Genesis 15:12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.

~r’b.a;-l[; hl’p.n” hm’Der>t;w> aAbl’ vm,V,h; yhiy>w: WTT Genesis 15:12

`wyl'[‘ tl,p,nO hl’dog> hk’vex] hm’yae hNEhiw>

NAU Genesis 31:40 “Thus I was: by day the heat consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.

dD;Tiw: hl’y>L’B; xr;q,w> br,xo ynIl;k’a] ~AYb; ytiyyIh’ WTT Genesis 31:40

`yn”y[eme ytin”v.

NAU 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head, and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a sound sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

ytevoa]r;me ~yIM;h; tx;P;c;-ta,w> tynIx]h;-ta, dwID’ xQ;YIw: WTT 1 Samuel 26:12

yKi ~ynIvey> ~L’ku yKi #yqime !yaew> [;deAy !yaew> ha,ro !yaew> ~h,l’ Wkl.YEw: lWav’`~h,yle[] hl’p.n” hw”hy> tm;Der>T;

NAU Esther 6:1 During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.

aybih’l. rm,aYOw: %l,M,h; tn:v. hd’d>n” aWhh; hl’y>L;B; WTT Esther 6:1

`%l,M,h; ynEp.li ~yair’q.nI Wyh.YIw: ~ymiY”h; yreb.DI tAnrok.ZIh; rp,se-ta,

NAU Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.

dd’b’l. hw”hy> hT’a;-yKi !v’yaiw> hb’K.v.a, wD’x.y: ~Alv’B. WTT Psalm 4:9

`ynIbeyviAT xj;b,l’

NAU Psalm 121:4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.

`laer’f.yI rmeAv !v’yyI al{w> ~Wny”-al{ hNEhi WTT Psalm 121:4

NAU Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

~x,l, ylek.ao tb,v,-yrex]a;m. ~Wq ymeyKiv.m; ~k,l’ aw>v’ WTT Psalm 127:2

`an”ve AdydIyli !TeyI !Ke ~ybic'[]h’

NAU Proverbs 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

`^t,n”v. hb’r>[‘w> T’b.k;v’w> dx’p.ti-al{ bK;v.Ti-~ai WTT Proverbs 3:24

NAU Proverbs 6:1 My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have given a pledge for a stranger,

2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth,

3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.

4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids;

5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,

7 Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,

8 Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.

9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?

10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest “–

11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.

20 My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

21 Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.

22 When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

24 To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

13 Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.

NAU Daniel 2:1 Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him.xe