Evening, 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
Psalm 72:19  Let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

This is a large petition. To intercede for a whole city needs a stretch of faith, and there are times when a prayer for one man is enough to stagger us. But how far-reaching was the psalmist's dying intercession! How comprehensive! How sublime! "Let the whole earth be filled with his glory." It doth not exempt a single country however crushed by the foot of superstition; it doth not exclude a single nation however barbarous. For the cannibal as well as for the civilized, for all climes and races this prayer is uttered: the whole circle of the earth it encompasses, and omits no son of Adam. We must be up and doing for our Master, or we cannot honestly offer such a prayer. The petition is not asked with a sincere heart unless we endeavour, as God shall help us, to extend the kingdom of our Master. Are there not some who neglect both to plead and to labor? Reader, is it your prayer? Turn your eyes to Calvary. Behold the Lord of Life nailed to a cross, with the thorn-crown about his brow, with bleeding head, and hands, and feet. What! can you look upon this miracle of miracles, the death of the Son of God, without feeling within your bosom a marvellous adoration that language never can express? And when you feel the blood applied to your conscience, and know that he has blotted out your sins, you are not a man unless you start from your knees and cry, "Let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen." Can you bow before the Crucified in loving homage, and not wish to see your Monarch master of the world? Out on you if you can pretend to love your Prince, and desire not to see him the universal ruler. Your piety is worthless unless it leads you to wish that the same mercy which has been extended to you may bless the whole world. Lord, it is harvest-time, put in thy sickle and reap.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Psalm 24:1  A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

Hosea 2:8,9  "For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil, And lavished on her silver and gold, Which they used for Baal. • "Therefore, I will take back My grain at harvest time And My new wine in its season. I will also take away My wool and My flax Given to cover her nakedness.

1 Chronicles 29:14-16  "But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. • "For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. • "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours.

Romans 11:36  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:17  Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

1 Timothy 4:4,5  For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; • for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

Philippians 4:19  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

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.

Morning August 6
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