Sermon: Celebrating God’s Watchman
Scripture: Isaiah 21:11-12 “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.”
Introduction: We are here again to celebrate God’s gift to the church. A pastor is like a watchman because both are spiritual guardians who are vigilant, provide warnings, and speak God's word to protect their community. Just as an ancient watchman scanned for threats from a high vantage point, a pastor is tasked with watching over the spiritual well-being of their congregation, guarding them from false teachings, moral decay, and spiritual danger. They deliver God's message, which can be a warning, an encouragement, or a call to repentance, regardless of whether the people want to hear it, because they will ultimately be held accountable for their role. We celebrate our pastors because of their vigilance as they are called to be constantly on duty and alert to dangers that could harm their flock. Their faithfulness to deliver God’s message as they announce what God’s says and what they see. They provide warnings of spiritual and moral dangers, urging people toward safety and repentance. The pastor is accountable to God for their faithfulness in delivering the message and protecting the flock. The role requires integrity, loyalty, and a steadfast commitment to their duty, resisting temptation to compromise or stray from the mission. Finally, the pastor’s role includes ceaseless prayer for the community, which is a vital part of a pastor's responsibility to intercede on behalf of their congregation.
People want to know what do they see in the future and why is that important to me? This question implies that the inquirer from Dumas was looking forward into the future, not in the past through the rear-view mirror. That’s an important distinction. The rear-view mirror often distorts what took place. Regrets and disappointments can loom big crowding out the blessings that were there as well. It takes intentionality to shift our gaze to the future with a new mindset to see the possibilities of the future. Some people are content to repeat their past shortcomings. The inquirer wants to know what God’s prophet is seeing. Will this night end and will things get better?
Hopeful believers are moved by more than what they see, they are moved by what they believed. What if you really believed what the Bible teaches? Then your best years are ahead of you. “…forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:13-14).
Your future will be fruitful. “…God chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that you fruit should remain…” (John 15:16).
Your mountains and other obstacles can be moved. “…I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing will be impossible to you” (Matthew 17:20). “What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will become a plain or a mole hill!” (Zechariah 4:7). Because of what God promises in His word, believers can change their thinking and find themselves on a hopeful path of blessings. They can look up and see the beauty of the world in a different light. We must get our directions from the only trusted source, the word of God, to ensure that we don’t cave into the wrong narrative.
The inquirer from Dumas is seeking answers. It is sad that the Jews were not seeking answer, maybe they fell to appreciate the value of God’s watchman. This Edomite from Dumas found the right source, ask the right question and then chose to benefit from the information. How you see the future and the part you must play in it is most important. We have gather today, we are here because we put God first and value God’s watchman on the wall. Our history has taught us that putting God first in everything you do as his people is important. Everything we have seen in the success of this ministry, everything that we have accomplished, everything that we have acquired, everything that we have received has been by faith from the hand of a gracious, loving God through the leadership God has provided. We are on a pilgrimage with God.
The pastor is assigned by God to caution us against straying away from God. Then they caution us against intoxication. Don’t allow the pleasures or the pain of the world to knock us off course. In these difficult days we must keep on learning, keep on adjusting and keep finding ways to adapt to the current climate. Our text from Isaiah suggests three things. We must take personal responsibility. We cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but we can change ourselves. That is something we have charge of. Sailors cannot change the wind, the waves or the weather, but they can change the set of the sail. They must seek the most accurate information from the right sources, to ask the right questions and to benefit from the insight. Those are the points of my message today.
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. Isaiah describes this word as The burden against Dumah. This was another ancient name for the kingdom of Edom, in the mountainous region of Seir. The Edomites descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob (Israel). They settled in the land to the south-east of Israel and were the sometimes enemies of Israel. The prophecy says, “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 a lesson for all. The lesson is that we should keep on learning, keep on growing and keep on adjusting. The pastor’s appreciation is the end of one and the beginning of starting out on a new trail. God has brought us to this stage in our journey that we might prepare to begin a new adventure. Your mission in life as you make disciples must include lifelong learning, growing, and adapting. On your lifelong journey, you too must find the right source for your information, ask the right questions and take advantage of the insight given and take advantage of every opportunity God brings your way.
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 servants of God who have gone further and climbed higher who can see better. They are not perfect, but they are positioned. The watchman position gives them a better view, they 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 he 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. Naturally, there is hope for the coming morning and every dark night will end. Spiritually, we all must remember that there is a cloud of darkness over the future of every unrepentant sinner that can only be broken by a relationship with Jesus Christ. 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! Today we have another chance to celebrate God’s gift to the church, God’s watchman on the wall. Some maybe waiting for a perfect leader or a perfect economy or a perfect time, but you must cease the moment a celebrate God, because when you celebrate God’s watchman, God’s pastor you celebrate God himself. Matthew 25:40, where Jesus says, "inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it to me."
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 us run the race that is before us. 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
The Prophet saw that the morning follows the night, and night following the morning! Spring follows Winter; and Summer follows Spring, Fall follows Summer and Winter follow Fall. It is the way of Life. So let us prepare in the Winter sharpen our tools, till our soil and improve our techniques. Let us plant in the Spring, using the best seed we have. Doing the growing season, guard and watch in the Summer. Weeds and bugs never take a day off. Something is always after your harvest. In the Fall claim and gather your Harvest. In the winter, rest, but not too long! Seek out the right source, ask the right questions and then benefit from the information. AMEN.
