"Watchman, What Of The Night?"
1. The Burden Of Dumah
There are some phrases in the Bible that stand out to me while I am reading. One is found in the prophecies of Isaiah where we read, "Watchman, what of the night?"
"The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come." (Isaiah 21:11-12)
Preacher Tripp mentioned, "Watch and pray" in a sermon some time back and the thought keeps going over in my mind, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?" This was repeated in Isaiah and it has continually been repeating in my mind. Several commentaries tell me that Dumah is a different spelling that refers to Edom. (Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom." Genesis 36:8) In a couple verses before this Isaiah tells us, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen..." (Isaiah 21:9) Edom is asking, "What about us? How far into the night have we come in our judgment?" God gives them three steps in His reply. Enquire, or seek God. Return to God. Come back to God. Let's seek the Lord as we look at "Watch" and "Watchman" in His Word.
2. Watch And Pray, Jesus Is Coming Again
Jesus told the disciples of His coming and He told them to "Watch and pray." All of the signs of the times point to His coming. Christ could call His bride to the marriage supper of the Lamb at any time. Are we ready? Are we watching for the Lord? Are we praying as John did, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus"? (Revelation 22:20) Watch and pray, it could be today!
"27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."
31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." (Mark 13:27 & 31-33)
3. Watch Night Service
Some of the churches held Watch Night Services on December 31st. Around midnight they prayed the New Year in. We don't need to wait up until midnight each night, but it is good for us to pray at the end of the day and be thankful for the Lord leading us through another day. Then, each morning it is good to pray and ask the Lord to be with us, as we thank Him for giving us another new day. David wrote Psalm 63 when he was in the wilderness, where he may have been in troublesome situations. But even so, he still praised God, through the night watches. Even on our days of trouble, we always have reason to praise our Lord! God is good!
"1 <<A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.>> O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches." (Psalm 63:1-6)
4. Even Seconds On A Watch Count
I got a new watch for Christmas. Because it is digital I can't see the seconds being counted off, but I can be sure that even the seconds count. Small, little periods of time like seconds, still count. What I like about this watch is that it reminds me to get up and walk when I haven't walked a certain number of steps during the past hour. So, I look around the room for something I can put in it's right place, or I refill my cup with water, or take out the trash. I get more "little things" done and more steps in. I learned something from this. Even the steps I take throughout the house, though they seem small, all add up. As I was thinking about this I thought about the little things we do for the Lord. They count. Our kindness to a stranger, it counts. Things we do that nobody sees... it all counts for the Lord. We may not have a big calling and reach hundreds or more, but if we reach out and help the one that God has put on our heart, it counts for that one, and it counts for God. God is able to take our "little" and use it for His glory. Jesus fed the multitudes with two little fish and five loaves of bread because a little boy was willing to give his meal to Jesus. Remember the story of Elijah and the widow woman? She gave her "little" and God used it to feed them many days.
"9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth." (I Kings 17:9-14)
5. Watch With Thanksgiving
Monday was a very busy day. After accomplishing all that I had planned to do, plus some, I was going home, looking forward to washing off the mud, fixing dinner, and resting through the evening. Looking down as I was driving I saw that my tire light was on. I couldn't pull over on the curvy road, so I went a little farther and pulled into a church parking lot. I got out and looked and called Michael. While I waited for him to get there I sat on the ground and tried to lower the spare. And I was thankful that we had a spare. I was thankful that I hadn't had a blow out and slid down an icy and muddy ditch. I was thankful that the church parking lot was dry. I thanked God that I had a jacket with me and that the air was warmer than it had been. I was thankful that there was still some daylight left and we were able to get the tire changed before it got too dark. Driving home, I was truly thankful that God had watched over me and let the tire go flat then and not while Michael was on his way to school one dark icy morning through town. God is good! And I am thankful! "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;" (Colossians 4:2)
6. Keeping Watch Over The Flock
I celebrate my Lord all year, so let's have another Christmas verse. "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2:8) When I was reading in Genesis, Jacob's conversation with Laban gave me a little taste of what being a shepherd was like.
"38 This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes." (Genesis 31:38-40)
In I Samuel 17 David tells King Saul that a lion and a bear took his sheep and he rescued them. There was a lot of work in "keeping watch over their flock." I am thankful for my Good Shepherd who keeps watch over me! Jesus is our Good Shepherd and He knows His sheep. "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:14-15) I am also thankful for our Pastor who is the under shepherd of the flock. "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15) Pray for your pastor who keeps watch over the flock.
7. Watch Your Children
"Mom, watch me." "Watch this, Mom, watch this." I can still remember my little ones as they tried a new "trick" on the swing set, or held their feet up and let gravity pull them down the hill on the big wheel. I sat outside with them as they played and that was a special part of our day, those many years ago. Can I give today's parents some advice? Watch your children! I know you have to work and make a living, but when you are with them, watch them! Hold them. Love them. Listen to them. Tell them about the Lord. I find it so sad when I see a little one try to snuggle up for some love, and in return hears, "You made me mess up my game!" Put your phone away. Look at these verses...
"5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
God gave parents the responsibility of teaching their children to love Him. When you are sitting, when you are walking, when you are going to bed, and when you are getting up, God tells us to be teaching our children to love Him. Some of our best conversations came at bed time. And maybe sometimes they were stalling so they wouldn't have to go to bed, but I am thankful for those memories. Watch your children and take every opportunity to tell them about the Lord.
8. Watch My Tongue
When you were growing up did you ever get scolded, "Watch your tongue!"? Well, I would have made that my title today, but this is personal. Sometimes I say things, to the ones I love most, that hurt their feelings. Sometimes I say something about someone that could really cause that person to think poorly of the one I degraded. Sometimes I am stressed and I blurt out feelings that make others think I am blaming them or mad at them for my problems. I suppose we have all had times when we should have watched our tongue a little more carefully. David prayed, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3) There are more scriptures about watching our tongue. In Proverbs 6:16-19 we see seven things that the Lord hates, and three of them have to do with our tongue. "A lying tongue" falls right between "A proud look," and "hands that shed innocent blood." (vs 17) And verse 19 gives us, " A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." James has even greater things to say about the danger of the tongue. "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." (James 3:5-6) Let's strive to be like the person described in Proverbs 31:26, "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness."
9. We Need The Whole Armor Of God On Our Watch
My sister had to call 911 and was taken to the hospital. So, my youngest sister and I decided to go see her, and help her with her granddaughter, and whatever else we could do for her. After spending the afternoon visiting with her, we left the hospital to go pick up the little girl. When we got to daycare the lady at the door told us that she didn't get off the bus that day. Almost in a panic we went to the school and banged on the door and rang the bell until the principal let us in. She said that the little girl was not there so we asked who had come to pick her up? By now, I was in a big panic! She asked us if she was in the Good News Club at the neighboring church. We didn't know. She called and they told her that they took her to daycare. When she called the driver she told her that she took her to her house and there was no one home. She took her back to daycare and when we picked her up, the six year old didn't know the scare we had in trying to find her. My worst nightmare of all time was about losing a child and this had been a real life nightmare. In the book of Nehemiah the Israelites worked to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem but their adversaries tried to stop the work. The Jews had to work, and still protect their families. It got so bad that they worked with their weapons in their hands. "They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon." (Nehemiah 4:17) As the sinfulness of this world gets worse, we must be more watchful. When I was young I walked home from school. Those days are gone. My sister drives an elementary school bus and if there is not a parent waiting at the bus stop, then that child stays on the bus, and goes back to school. We need the armor of God to watch over our loved ones.
"10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" (Ephesians 6:10-18)
10. Watchmen Along The Shore
I shared the story of the great old song, "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning" once before. It gives the message that those who are shipwrecked are looking for the light along the shore. We need to be watching for those who are looking for the Light and give them the gospel message of hope and salvation. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;" (Luke 12:35)
I have always liked the song, "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning." When I researched the story behind the song, my fondness for it grew. Evangelist Dwight L. Moody was preaching in 1871 and he told about a ship trying to get into the Cleveland Harbor during a dark storm on Lake Erie. He could see the light from the lighthouse, but the lower lights had gone out on the rocky shore. Phillip Paul Bliss was so touched by the story he wrote this great old song. Here is an excerpt from his book.
"On a dark, stormy, night, when the waves rolled like mountains, and not a star was to be seen, a boat, rocking and plunging, neared the Cleveland harbor. “Are you sure this is Cleveland?” asked the captain, seeing only one light from the lighthouse.
“Quite sure, sir,” replied the pilot.
“Where are the lower lights?”
“Gone out, sir.”
“Can you make the harbor?”
“We must, or perish, sir!”
And with a strong hand and a brave heart, the old pilot turned the wheel. But alas, in the darkness he missed the channel, and with a crash upon the rocks the boat was shivered, and many a life lost in a watery grave. Brethren, the Master will take care of the great lighthouse: let us keep the lower lights burning!"
D. L. Moody.
Philip P. Bliss, The Charm: A Collection of Sunday School Music (Chicago, Illinois: Root & Cady, 1871)
"Let The Lower Lights Be Burning"
Brightly beams our Father's mercy from His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.
Chorus
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled, loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights, along the shore.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother, some poor sailor tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost.
11. Warning From The Watchman
When I first started thinking about writing these devotionals, I thought about God's warning to the prophet Ezekiel. Are we watchmen for the Lord? Are we sending out the warning that the Lord is coming back?
"16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezekiel 3:16-21)
12. It Is Important That We All Watch
Maybe you don't feel like you are a watchman. Remember when we talked about the people building the wall in the book of Nehemiah? Here is another verse... "And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house." (Nehemiah 7:3) They all had their turn being watchers, "every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house." This was important to them. It was where they lived. Watching for our families and friends is of most importance to us. You may not feel like you are up on the top of the wall as a watchman for your city or town, but we better be watching for our homes. In three of his letters to the churches, the Apostle Paul told them to "watch". We better be watching.
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." (I Corinthians 1i6:13)
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." (I Thessalonians 5:6)
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (II Timothy 4:5)
13. Miriam Watched Over Baby Moses
My sister's granddaughter had a wonderful time while she was staying with us. She got to see her first snow ever! We went out early in the cold Saturday morning with her to sled and play. I asked her what she thought of snow and she said, "It's cold." She wanted to taste it, and we also made snow cream. She even made a little bitty snowman. Another thing she enjoyed was the night time Bible stories. Telling our kids Bible stories before bed was something we did when they were small, and it just seems like the thing to do before bedtime. Michael told her Bible stories and he began with stories about children in the Bible. After each story, she wanted to hear more. I know she may have been stalling so she wouldn't have to go to bed, but she really seemed to enjoy hearing him tell them. He told her about baby Moses who was put in the basket and hidden in the river and I thought that would be a good story for our devotional. We read of the faith of Moses in Hebrews. "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;" (Hebrews 11:23-24) When we look at the account in the second chapter of Exodus we see Miriam, Moses' sister, was also faithful as she watched over her brother to see what would happen to him. When Pharaoh's daughter heard the baby cry she had compassion on him. Miriam may have been afraid to approach Pharaoh's daughter, but she didn't let her fear stop her. She went to her and said, "Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?" Then she went and got her mother to come, and Pharaoh's daughter told her she would pay her to take care of the baby for her. I don't know of any other mother who was paid wages to watch her own baby. You may be watching over children. They may be your own children, or they may belong to someone else. Whatever the case, be faithful in your watch.
"3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.
7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.
9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it." (Exodus 2:3-9)
14. Watch Over Our Widows And Elders
I have a prayer request for Michael's mother. She was having trouble speaking on Sunday, and when she went to the hospital the doctors found that she has had a series of mini strokes. It seems that her speech was all that was affected. Please pray for Betty. We have been talking about watching over others, and today we see that we are to watch over the elders, especially the widows. With all the sickness in the world, it is vital that we keep a watch on the elderly, men and women. During these cold, winter months, we need to check to see that they have heat and food in the house. It may be hard for them to go out to get groceries. Many have faithfully watched over their families for many years. It is our turn to watch over them.
"3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.
4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." (I Timothy 5:3-5 & 17)
15. Listen To Those Who Watch Over You
Mom and I rode together to take my sister's granddaughter back home Monday and I asked her if she could think of any other examples in the Bible of someone who watched over someone else. She thought of Mordecai watching over Esther. That is a good example because we can look at how the one being watched responds. First we see how they are related. "And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter." (Esther 2:7) The book takes place in Shushan, the palace, so for whatever reason, Esther's parents were dead and Mordecai took it upon himself to watch over and raise Esther. Esther was brought to the king's house as a possible choice to be the new queen. "Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her." (Esther 2:10-11) These two verses show us that Esther still does as Mordecai asked her to, and also that Mordecai is still watching over her. Later in the same chapter we see that Esther is still listening to Mordecai, "like as when she was brought up with him." "Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him." (Esther 2:20) Even after Esther became queen, she still listened to Mordecai. That is when we have those memorable words, "for such a time as this." "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:13-14) Again, Esther obeyed Mordecai and went before the king. We need to pay attention and listen to those who are watching over us and have our best interests in mind.
