My whole being waits for my Lord— more than the night watch waits for morning; yes, more than the night watch waits for morning! Everything in me waits for Adonai more than guards on watch wait for morning, more than guards on watch wait for morning.
I wait for you more eagerly than a soldier on guard duty waits for the dawn. Yes, I wait more eagerly than a soldier on guard duty waits for the dawn. My soul [waiteth] for the Lord more than the watchers [wait] for the morning, [more than] the watchers for the morning. I am waiting for my Lord, like a guard waiting and waiting for the morning to come.
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. My soul waiteth on the Lord more than the morning watch watcheth for the morning. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. I wait for the Lord more eagerly than sentries wait for the dawn— than sentries wait for the dawn. I wait for the Lord to help me more than night watchmen wait for the dawn, more than night watchmen wait for the dawn.
My soul looks to the Lord more than watchmen look for the morning— more, indeed, than watchmen for the morning. My soul has waited for the Lord more than those that watch for the morning: I say, more than those that watch for the morning. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. Yes, more than watchmen for the morning. And just imagine your eager expectancy as the last hour of your watch was drawing to a close, eyes sore and drooping after such a long night, waiting for the first rays of sun to begin peeking over the hills, knowing that not long after, you would be relieved from your shift on the cold, hard wall, and be free to go home to rest.
You would be counting down the minutes…waiting for the sun to shine and the shroud of darkness to be swept away. Rejoicing to have made it through another night safely, without incident. It is this kind of eagerness and expectancy that we are to have as we go to pray. When we pray, it should be a joyful thing to us to spend time with the Lord…and to wait for Him to come and sit with us.
Knowing that He will lift the burdens off of our shoulders and fill us with the peace that we are longing for. Waiting for His presence like the earth as it eagerly thirsts for the spring rain — then bursting forth in all of its beauty and fragrance. Following Jesus Magazine. It was harder to see the sneak attacks of the enemy so you had to stay extra alert. Plus the night can be a long time as anyone who has had sleep difficulties can attest to! The eyes get heavy so it was hard to stay alert and awake and not let your guard down.
In like manner the Bible says we are 'sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night of the darkness. That is the day of the Lord's return and the establishment of His kingdom upon earth ruling from Jerusalem. That is the day we long for and the day that we look for. The darker it gets, the more difficult it gets. So the question is - 'how far through the night are we? Isa The oracle concerning Edom.
One keeps calling to me from Seir, "Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night? How far gone is the night? How much longer will the darkness last? When will the new day dawn? In the natural you all know the saying 'it is darkest before the dawn'.
That actually may not be true as a scientific fact, but it is often true spiritually speaking and will be true leading up to the return of Jesus Christ. How dark will it get?
How long will this last for? Interesting questions and these are of course, interesting times! Economically we have gone from the crash of where banks and finance companies went under, to today where entire nations are going bankrupt! But it is interesting, when thinking about the question 'how far gone is the night' that this world seems to be 'out of whack' on so many levels.
The world is out of whack politically, morally, economically, environmentally, socially and even medically [6].
It is not just one thing. It is unsustainable on so many levels. The Bible doesn't tell us when exactly the dawn of the new day and the return of Jesus will come but it does give us signs to look for and often repeats the command to WATCH! And even more so as we see the day approaching! Why watch unto prayer? Because it will be harder in the last days, you want to be found as a faithful servant. You really do. It got hard for Israel's watchman as it got darker and the night dragged on.
But they had to stay alert! Jesus' command concerning His return. Mark Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back --whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch! When is the dawning of the new day? No one knows BUT look at verse 28 which says that we should still know the times and seasons that we live in. Let me put what Jesus said into my own little context. At home I have a weeping Mulberry tree. It looked like an old man on his last legs for much of the winter but when I saw those leaves arrive in spring I knew that it's nearly mulberry time.
Which is a good time! If I can somehow outwit the birds. Jesus said that we understand what is about to come in these natural events so, in like manner Jesus said we should be able to interpret the signs of the times spiritually. Sleeplessly, a parent lies in bed, listening for the door signaling their child is safe.
A military family prays for the return of a loved one. We nervously listen for the phone call with medical test results. Those who work the graveyard shift know the challenge of waiting in darkness and yearning for light.
God bless those who serve at night: those who keep peace and safety, watch over patients, labor so others can rest, even those watching over flocks of sheep, because it is hard to wait faithfully. The advent season is one of joyful waiting for our Savior. We anticipate celebrating with family and friends, but we have it locked down.
We will not be surprised. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning Psalm —6.
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