Homilist 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. GOOD MEN SUFFERING. The pious Jews were now in deepest sorrow. It was their night. The good have often a night. Physical suffering, secular difficulties, social bereavements, spiritual temptations, conscious imperfections, often turn the sky of a good man into night. II. WICKED MEN TAUNTING. The voice from Mount Seir was, "What of the night?" The language is sarcastic and contemptuous. The wicked, instead of sympathising with the good in their sufferings, often treat them with heartless ridicule. The spirit is seen now in various questions that are addressed to the Church. (1) Where is your superior happiness? (2) Where are the triumphs of your cause? (3) Where is your spiritual superiority to other men? III. THE GREAT GOD SPEAKING TO BOTH. "The morning cometh and also the night." 1. His voice to the good. "The morning cometh." There is a morning for the Church on this earth. There is a morning to the good in eternity. 2. The voice to the wicked. "The night cometh." "Where is Edom now? The night cometh, sinner: the shadows are gathering already," etc. (Homilist.) 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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