Sermon: How Do You See The Future
Scripture: Isaiah 21:11-12 This message came to me concerning Edom: Someone from Edom keeps calling to me, “Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?” 12 The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but night will soon return. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.”
Introduction: God’s watchmen in a turbulent season see a mind-boggling prophecy. The prophet is somewhat fearful and troubled by his vision of Babylon's ruin and the rise of the Medes and Persians empire. One can only imagine what it would be like to see the most powerful nation in the world fall. It is not surprising that some from Edom would come to the prophet and inquire about the future. He is from Dumah, an oasis town in northern Arabia. Its name means "stillness" or "silence," yet it seems like the whole world is dark and uncertain. Babylon has fallen, and the time of Arabian calamity has been set, now the messenger of Edom wonders if the night will ever end.
The watchman answers by way of prophecy. There comes first a morning of light, and peace, and opportunity; but afterward comes a night of trouble and calamity. If there be a morning of youth and health, there will come a night of sickness and old age; if a morning of prosperity in the family, in the public, yet we must look for changes. It is our wisdom to improve the present morning, in preparation for the night that is coming after it. Inquire, return, come. We are urged to do it quickly, for there is no time to trifle. Those that return and come to God, will find they have a great deal of work to do, and but little time to do it in. What will tomorrow bring? Can we trust our own predictions? Can you trust your own vision? Do you have a good eye? Jesus said in Matthew 6:22-23, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.” It is hard to see things clear with bad vision.
The more media intake, the more confused the issues become. The more you read, the more you will find people on both sides of nearly any prediction. Whether it’s the Super Bowl or this weekend’s weather, you are going to find disagreements, even when looking at the same facts. Whether it’s technology, economics, politics, ethics, agriculture, energy, or anything else, there are too many variables to make a clean prediction. We’ve been hearing about technological change, environmental threats, overpopulation, and dwindling resources all our lives. This short prophecy of inquiry in Isaiah is no exception. It is hard to understand who the characters are and why the story is given. Bible scholars and Theologians differ in their opinion.
This cry has come to Isaiah from a neighboring country, asking “What do you see in the future? It is the same kind of questions people are asking today. When will we return to normal? When will the prices come down? Is there anyone worth voting for? Do we need a new leader? On the heels of war, economic challenges and foreign invasion, the inquirer from Dumah asked, Watchman, what of the night. This prophecy seems to answer two pressing questions (1) Do you see any end of this long night in view? (2) What promise does the new day bring? The inquirer recognizes Isaiah as a prophetic watcher. God himself has been called the watcher over the affair of men. Christ has been referred to as the keeper and watcher over Israel. Yet the amazing thing about this text is that inquirer is a foreigner, from a people who are far from God. He is an Edomite, a descendant of Ishmael. He has been surrounded by idolatry, seers, sorcerers, and those with familiar spirits, yet he hungers for the truth. This inquirer comes to Israel, to Israel’s prophet and watchman about the future. He is concerned about public safety and national welfare of the region. He is seeking truth, and He knows that God’s watchmen is one of the best sources of truth. God has given us a record of what he wants us to know in the Word of God, which is truth. Scripture is our beacon of truth because its origins are perfect and come from God. This is affirmed by the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Christ Jesus said to those that believed on Him, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). That's a wonderful promise that can be taken seriously, especially when you feel confused by conflicting reports, when you feel the need for some sort of healing - whether the difficulty is injury, illness, financial hardship, a troubled relationship, or anything else. This inquirer of Edom desires to be informed about what is ahead and instructed as to how He should respond. What is the condition of things? What will happen to Israel, to Assyria, to Babylon, to Edom? Will the destruction be permanent? Will the violence ever end? When will this darkness pass? This man needs a word from God’s prophet. When you are looking for answers, you should go to the right source. This man comes to the watchman. The watchman has the best and clearest vision. This text has lessons for all.
1. Find the Right Source - Find a watchman who has a better view and a clearer vision. Only God has perfect vision. To God there is no difference between light and darkness. Neither helps nor hinders His vision. Man on the other hand see through a glass darkly. Our vision is limited. Yet when you are looking for the direction, find a watchman with a better view. Someone with clearer vision and has a word from the Lord. There are wise people who have gone further and climbed higher who can see better. This is the proper person who is aware of the situation. The watchman positions himself for a better view, waits with attentive ears and watches for impending dangers. He restrains the people, keeps the city safe and gives the necessary warning. He knows that many people are asleep and are unaware of the dangers. He has a better view, clearer vision, and is the right source. He is the right source because he has no hidden agenda. He is God’s spokesman, with a God-given assignment. His only assignment is to tell what he sees. Be careful when people want to tell you how to feel, what to think and what to do. You must decide those things for yourself.
2. Ask the Right Question – It is important to find the right person, you also need to ask the right question. Watchman, what of the night? You have been watching for the slightest movement, listening for the smalless sounds and watching for the morning skies, What discoveries have you made? What warning can you give? The inquirer wants to know because what the watchman sees, will determine his next move. What should I be doing to prepare for the coming changes? Is it time to rise and take definite action? How much longer will the night last? Is there any sign of the light of dawn? Some people never seek answers from the right source and others never ask the right questions. The prophet’s answer reminds us of David’s response to the grace of God in Psalms 30:5 when he declared, “For his anger endures but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” The morning is a symbol of hope and light. Much like spring, morning symbolizes a fresh start, and a hopeful feeling compared to what has come before. This inquirer of Edom asked the right question and the answer the morning comes, awakened his hope, brightened his eyes, and warmed His heart. Find the Right Source, Ask the Right Question and take advantage of the information.
3. Take Advantage of Insight. We seek answers so we can benefit from the information. If you find the right source, and ask the right question, you should try to benefit from the insight. Many people are asleep and unaware of the times and season. The "Watchman says, Morning cometh, and also night. Will ye inquire, inquire! Turn, come!" What is the meaning and how can we benefit from the information? Many come to complain, others to be entertained, some for inspiration, but most benefit little from prophetic insight. Martin Luther seems to suggest the prophet is saying, "When the morning comes, it will still be night." Isaiah sees the morning dawn, but it will be swallowed up again by night. History has shown that Isaiah’s answer was right. The sunshine of prosperity is often followed by the clouds of recession. Isaiah could see the Assyrian period of judgment was followed by the Chaldean, and the Chaldean by the Persian, and the Persian by the Grecian, and the Grecian by the Roman. Again and again, there was a glimmer of morning dawn that was swallowed up directly by another night, until some nations disappeared from the history of the world.
The prophet does not see an immediate end to these cycles of days and nights. Yet he sees that God has something more for His people. Israel’s Messiah would bring a new morning dawn, according to promise, that will last forever. The prophet sends the inquirer home, but assures him that he could ask further questions, if they desired.
It is almost as if Isaiah understood that many people give up their quest and remain in darkness. They give up on the church, on society and on the country. There is hope and the night will end. Yet we all must remember that there is a cloud of darkness over the future of every unrepentant sinner. The way to salvation for every person is just the same as for Israel - namely, the way of repentance. Isaiah seems to be hoping that the inquirer would benefit from his insight and take advantage of the present opportunities. Every time we have an opportunity to hear the word, God calls us to come again. The offer of salvation and Heaven is a reminder that this world is a temporary home. This is our home away from home. The inquirer is encouraged to keep inquiring, return to God, and finally, return home. The cycle of life will continue, night and day, light and darkness, Summer and Winter will not cease.
Genesis 8:22 As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.”
How do we benefit from this prophetic word? We must take advantage!
Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”
We must take advantage of the seasons, take advantage of the opportunity, seek the Lord, and turn to him. Watchman, what of the night? The night will end, but don’t throw away your candle. The day is coming, don’t waste the day! Has the long night of pandemic, economic woes, social upheavals, and present difficulties been wasted in your life. Have you taken advantage of the present opportunities?
John 9:4 “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work.”
Jesus understood that he had limited time to get His work done. We all have limited time. This night will end, and a new day is on its way. There is a limited time to seek the Lord, to find our place and do our work. Since we know what’s coming, changing seasons, prosperity and recession, good times and bad times, the best of times and the worst of times, we must take advantage of every season, every opportunity.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou go.”
Since we are going to leave here one day, let’s take advantage of this day of salvation and repentance. Take advantage of good citizenship, obey the laws and vote. Take advantage of business opportunities: work hard, earn and save, give and invest wisely. Take advantage of educational opportunities and keep on learning. Take advantage of social opportunities, be a good friend, help one another, pray for one another. Every season will be filled with opportunities and disappointments, tests, and testimonies, don’t sit around praying for things to get easier, pray that you will become stronger, wiser, and better. Pray that you can take full advantage of every God-given opportunity He sends your way! Believers are on their way to a place of honor!
Hebrews 12:1-12 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. “Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?” The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but night will soon return.”
Since we know that we have not seen the last turbulent election, violent storm, economic fluctuations, war and rumor of wars, Let’s find the right source of truth, ask the right question about the future and then take advantage of the information by taking advantage of every God-given opportunity. Allow God’s word to awaken your hope, brightened your eyes, and warm your heart. A new day is coming! Amen
