Sermon: How Do You See The Future

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.