How Long? Watchman, What Of The Night.

HOW LONG? WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)

TEXT: Isaiah 21:11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

I read the story of a young boy that lived on a farm in the mountains. The grandparents, parents, his brothers and sisters lived in the old farm house. Every time the young boy got a chance he told anyone that would listen: HE WANTED A WATCH. His grandfather had a pocket watch, so did his dad. The older boys in the family all had a pretty pocket watch.

The young boy would tell anyone that would listen he wanted a pocket watch. They told him he couldn’t even tell time. Why would he need a pocket watch? When his mom woke him up, he asked for a pocket watch. At the breakfast table the boy asked for a pocket watch. When the dad went out to the barn, the boy asked for a pocket watch. All day long, every day the boy pestered everyone how bad he wanted his very own pocket watch. The mom and dad said he was a broken record, all he wanted was a pocket watch. They explained he could not tell time why would he need a pocket watch? One day the father came in from working in the fields. The boy met him at the door and he begged his father for a pocket watch.

The dad raised his voice and yelled: WE HAVE HEARD ENOUGH ABOUT THE WATCH, YOU ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF A POCKET WATCH! I BETTER NEVER HEAR AGAIN: YOU WANT A POCKET WATCH. You will get a whipping if you mention “WATCH AGAIN”. After supper the family gathered around the pot-bellied stove and shared Bible verses. The grandpa shared a verse. Then the dad shared. It soon was the young boy’s turn to quote his verse. The boy stepped to the center of the front room and put back his shoulders. HE BOLDLY STATED MY VERSE TODAY IS MARK 13:37.

Mark 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

The young boy quietly sat down in front of the stove. Well, the story ended there. I don’t know if he got the watch or the other promise. BUT HE BOLDLY PROCLAIMED: WATCH.

*WATCH: In the early Bible the NIGHT WATCH was divided into 3 parts. Later in history the NIGHT WATCH was divided into 4 parts. (The Romans taught: 1st watch was from 6 pm to 9 pm. 2nd watch was from 9 pm to 12 am. 3rd watch was 12 am to 3 am. The 4th watch was from 3 am to 6 am.

*WATCH: place on guard, vigilant, alert, no holidays, ready, prepared, awake, keep an eye looking out.

*WATCHMAN: to stand alert on the wall and look out for danger, then warn others.

LEARN THIS LESSON: THERE ARE MANY MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAN WHAT IS VISIBLE TO YOUR EYES?

JESUS WARNS THE DAY IS COMING WHEN THE TEMPLE WILL BE DESTROYED. GOD TEACHES US THAT THERE ARE MANY ISSUES MORE IMPORTANT THAN SHOWING OFF HOW WONDERFUL THE TEMPLE IS TO THE EYES.

Any good teacher knows there are literary devices to help teach. One of those devices is REPETITION….

Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Isaiah 21:11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

WATCH OUT THERE IS AN APPOINTED TIME… WE SEEM TO BE LOSING THE FEAR OF DEATH AND FEAR OF GOD. DO WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE? GET ON THE WALL.

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

ARE WE STAYING ON THE WALL DECLARING SIN WILL DESTROY… SIN CAN’T GET ME. SIN LEAVES MARKS AND SCARS… SEEMS MANY DISCUSS THE MARK OF THE BEAST --- 666.

Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

WATCHMAN BEWARE: SIN’S MARK IS DEEPER THAN 666.

Job 10:14 If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

ASK ADAM AND EVE ABOUT SIN? ASK KING SAUL HE DISRESPECTS THE PREACHER? ASK SAMSON ABOUT FLIRTING WITH SIN. ASK DAVID ABOUT SKIPPING THE BATTLE…