Isaiah 21:11-12 The burden of Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?… I. ENDEAVOUR TO EXPLAIN IT. II. EXHIBIT THE LESSONS WHICH IT TEACHES; or, apply it to the friends and the foes of God. 1. We have an illustration of the conduct of a taunting world; a world often disposed not to reason, but to make derision of religion; a world always finding occasions, in some peculiar state of the Church, or in some aspect of religion, for the exhibition of irony or scorn. 2. We have in the response of the watchman, "The morning cometh," an illustration of the times of light and prosperity in the Church destined to succeed those of calamity. We may apply it to the individual Christian in the midst of calamity. Thus, too, it is of the Church universal. In her darkest hours, it was true that brighter days were to dawn. So it is now. The night of sin is to be succeeded by a long bright day. There is one thing only that is certain in the future history of this world — its conversion to God and to the true religion. 3. In like manner we have an illustration of a third important fact — the night of calamity that is coming on a sinful and scoffing world. 4. There remains one other idea. That is, if you — the despiser — will inquire in a humble manner; if you will come with proper reverence, and will turn from your sins, light will stream along your path; and the sun of prosperity will ride up your sky, and pour down his noontide radiance upon you also. ( A. Barnes, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? |
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