"Watchman, What Of The Night?"

Isaiah 21:11-12 "Watchman, What of The Night?"

11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? 12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.

Dumah is a land south of the Dead Sea, minerally rich and is also called Seir.

It is the home of Esau's ancestors , rivals of the tribes of Jacob. “Dumah" means "Silence" Silence can be a blessing or at times, a burden, as in our text. A man had called out to the watchman, out of Seir, "Watchman, what of the night?"

He asks, "What of the night?" or, "How goes the night?" or "What occurs tonight?"

Isaiah was the watchman for the hou¬se of Israel! He announced that the morning of deliveran¬ce is breaking for Israel, but a night of defeat and bon¬dage upon Edom.

1. The Watchman's Appointment - “...Watchman...”

2 Cor 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

1 Peter 4:7 the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

*A Watchman Must Be:

a) Willing - Mt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

b) Watching - Matt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

c) Warning - Ezekiel 33:1 - 7 - READ

Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

d) Witnessing - Pr 11:30 he that winneth souls is wise.

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:

2. The Watchman's Answer - “Watchman, what of the night?

The watch¬man said, The morning cometh, and also the night..." or "How goes the night?"

a) The Morning Cometh - Jesus Is Coming Soon!

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 2 Peter 3:10 - 13

1 The Passing of the Material - 10 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

2. The Priority of the Spiritual - 11 "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,"

3. The Pre-eminence of the Eternal - 12 "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" "The day of God"

4. The Promise of the Celestial - 13 "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

b) and also the night..." - Judgment Is Coming Soon!

Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

3. The Watchman's Advice “If ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come"

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.