Isaiah 21:11-12 The burden of Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?… I. THE CHARACTER HERE GIVEN OF THE PROPHET. II. THE IMPORTUNITY OF THE PEOPLE APPLYING TO HIM. III. HIS ANSWER. 1. We may tender the prophet's answer to any who would perplex themselves or others with inquiries respecting the existing state of this world's affairs. 2. The wicked, walking after their own lusts and counsels, sometimes, in a scoffing manner, inquire of ministers, "What of the night? What think ye of my state and prospects? What of the truth of religion? What of the uses and importance of godliness? My wickedness thrives, and you said that it would be my ruin; my vices are pleasant, and you said that they would be bitter; my mind is at ease, and you said that I should be harassed in conscience. Where is the truth of your words? where the severity of judgment? — what evidence of a day of retribution?" The awful answer again is, "the morning cometh, and also the night." 3. The prophet's answer was given to persons in trouble; and thus applied, its import is various. To some who demand of us, in seasons of their distress, "Watchman, what of the night?" the answer is, Time is fast passing, and your sorrows are fast passing with it. To others, "The morning cometh," but as yet it is profound night to you, many and heavy sorrows still await you. Your spiritual condition is such, that our Heavenly Father will seek to bring you to Himself by many grievous visitations; hateful indeed, to the natural will, but most salutary for the soul's health. Or else, perhaps, as you have approved yourselves to God in the season of prosperity, it is the Divine pleasure to make experiment of you in the fiery furnace of adversity, to see whether "tribulation can separate you from the love of Christ." To others again, the answer is, It is the seventh hour, the midnight of your affliction is already past, and if passed by a little only, you have already suffered the extreme of your earthly portion of endurance; all that follows shall be comparatively light, and work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, if in patience ye possess your souls. (A. Williams, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? |
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