Morning, August 6
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Awaiting the Dawn: Insights from Isaiah's Watchman

What challenges do we face in our faith journey today? How prepared are we to face spiritual adversity? What is the current state of our faith community? When do we expect the dawn, the arrival of God's salvation?

This is the burden against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” — Isaiah 21:11

It seems we often find ourselves asking, "Watchman, what is left of the night?" What dangers lurk in the darkness? Errors multiply, and new ones appear every moment. Against what misconceptions must we stand guard?

Sins emerge from their hiding places in the darkness; we ourselves must ascend the watchtower and remain vigilant in prayer. Our Heavenly Protector anticipates all attacks against us. Even when the intended harm is only a glimmer in the enemy's eye, He prays for us, ensuring our faith does not fail when we are tried and tested. Continue, O Gracious Watchman, to warn us of our adversaries, and for the sake of Zion, remain not silent!

"Watchman, what is left of the night?" What is the forecast for the Church? Are storm clouds gathering, or is the sky clear and calm? We must be deeply concerned for the Church of God; as threats of misunderstanding and disbelief loom, let us discern the signs of the times and prepare for battle.

"Watchman, what is left of the night?" What stars shine brightly? Which divine promises speak to our present circumstances? Though you raise the alarm, also provide us with comfort. Christ, our guiding star, remains steadfast in His place, and all stars are safe in the right hand of their Lord.

But Watchman, when will morning come? The Bridegroom delays. Are there not signs of His rising as the Sun of Righteousness? Has not the morning star risen as a promise of the coming day? When will the day break, and the shadows recede?

Lord Jesus, guide us through our darkest hour.
May we discern Your radiant promises in our lives.
Awaiting the dawn, may we find comfort in Your presence.
Come quickly, O Lord, according to Your Word.


Questions for Reflection

1. What challenges do you currently face in your faith journey and how are you dealing with them?
2. How can you prepare yourself to face spiritual adversity?
3. What is the current state of your faith community? How can you contribute to its growth and stability?
4. How well do you understand God's promises? Can you recall a promise that has been fulfilled in your life?
5. What signs do you see in your life that God's salvation is near?
6. What "night" are you experiencing in your spiritual life right now? How can you better guard against spiritual errors and sins?
7. How do you react to threats against your faith, such as misunderstandings or disbelief?
8. Can you identify any "stars" or divine promises that shine brightly in your current circumstances?
9. How can you be a beacon of comfort and guidance to others in your faith community?
10. In what ways have you experienced the steadfastness of Christ in your life?
11. What signs of the "coming morning" or God's deliverance do you see in your life or in the world today?
12. How can you invite Jesus to come quickly into your current circumstances, according to His word?

Supporting Scriptures

Genesis 19:1: Now the two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them, bowed facedown,
Exodus 12:42: Because the LORD kept a vigil that night to bring them out of the land of Egypt, this same night is to be a vigil to the LORD, to be observed by all the Israelites for the generations to come.
Judges 7:19: Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands.
Psalm 63:6: When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night.
Matthew 25:6: At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Mark 13:35: Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
Luke 12:38: Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

Dawn and Dusk: Scriptures, Devotions, and Prayers. Inspired by Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning and Evening: Daily Readings. You are free to copy as needed for noncommercial personal and ministry use.

Bible League: Living His Word
No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good,
    and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
    and to walk humbly with your God.

The people of Judah were conveniently living under a misapprehension. They thought that as long as they participated in all the right religious observances before the Lord they would be acceptable in His sight, no matter how they lived their lives. The mistake they made is all too common among the people of God in every age. The mistake is that religious observance is sufficient in and of itself to justify us before God. Show up on Sunday, sing all the songs, listen to the sermon, participate in the proper rituals, mouth the right prayers, and everything is copacetic with the Lord.

The prophet Micah, however, will have none of this kind of thinking. The point he is making in our verse for today is that formal religious observance is a dead ritual apart from respect for the moral commands of God. The point is that a heart that is right before God desires to obey the moral commands as well as participate in the religious observances. The people of God should know this, so says Micah, because God has told them so. God has given them His word.

Since they obviously needed reminding, Micah summed up the commands of God for them in his own unique way.

First, we should treat our fellow human beings well:

We should "do what is right" with respect to everyone. This refers to being fair and just in our dealings with people. We should not oppress them, take advantage of them, or cheat them in any way. We should also "love mercy." This refers to the loving-kindness we should extend to everyone. We should be compassionate, forgiving, and beneficent to people.

Second, we should live right before God:

We should "walk humbly with your God." We should be humble before God by acknowledging Him as the sovereign Lord of all whose commands are not to be ignored. We walk humbly with our God when we deny our own will and ways and follow His will and ways for our lives.

In the book of James we are told that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). In like manner, religious observance without Christian morality is dead.

Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Psalm 78


Psalm 78 -- Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
Romans 7


Romans 7 -- No Law has Power; Conflict with the Sinful Nature

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.
Insight
Many people don't want their lives exposed to God's light because they are afraid of what will be revealed. They don't want to be changed.
Challenge
Don't be surprised when these same people are threatened by your desire to obey God and do what is right, because they are afraid that the light in you may expose some of the darkness in their lives. Rather than giving in to discouragement, keep praying that they will come to see how much better it is to live in light than in darkness.
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Isaiah 21:11  Watchman, what of the night?

What enemies are abroad? Errors are a numerous horde, and new ones appear every hour: against what heresy am I to be on my guard? Sins creep from their lurking places when the darkness reigns; I must myself mount the watch-tower, and watch unto prayer. Our heavenly Protector foresees all the attacks which are about to be made upon us, and when as yet the evil designed us is but in the desire of Satan, he prays for us that our faith fail not, when we are sifted as wheat. Continue O gracious Watchman, to forewarn us of our foes, and for Zion's sake hold not thy peace.

"Watchman, what of the night?" What weather is coming for the Church? Are the clouds lowering, or is it all clear and fair overhead? We must care for the Church of God with anxious love; and now that Popery and infidelity are both threatening, let us observe the signs of the times and prepare for conflict.

"Watchman, what of the night?" What stars are visible? What precious promises suit our present case? You sound the alarm, give us the consolation also. Christ, the polestar, is ever fixed in his place, and all the stars are secure in the right hand of their Lord.

But watchman, when comes the morning? The Bridegroom tarries. Are there no signs of his coming forth as the Sun of Righteousness? Has not the morning star arisen as the pledge of day? When will the day dawn, and the shadows flee away? O Jesus, if thou come not in person to thy waiting Church this day, yet come in Spirit to my sighing heart, and make it sing for joy.

"Now all the earth is bright and glad

With the fresh morn;

But all my heart is cold, and dark and sad:

Sun of the soul, let me behold thy dawn!

Come, Jesus, Lord,

O quickly come, according to thy word."

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Proverbs 3:12  For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

Deuteronomy 32:39  'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.

Jeremiah 29:11  'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 55:8  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

Hosea 2:14  "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Bring her into the wilderness And speak kindly to her.

Deuteronomy 8:5  "Thus you are to know in your heart that the LORD your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.

Hebrews 12:11  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

1 Peter 5:6  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

Psalm 119:75  I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

Evening August 5
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