Isaiah 21:6-10 4/17/16 WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?

 The year is 689 BC and the world is in turmoil.  The Babylonian Empire is under attack by the Assyrian Empire.  All of the nations in that area hoped against hope that Babylonwould be able to defeat the Assyrian aggressors to their north.  However, it was not to be!  Babylon fell to the Assyrians and everyone knew they would not be stopped until the entire region was under their domination.

      Against this backdrop of war and a certain attack upon the nation of Israel, God commands the prophet Isaiah to assume the role of a watchman.  Isaiah is to look to the prophetic future and tell the people what he sees approaching.  This is just what Isaiah does in out text.

      This message might have been given nearly 2,700 years ago, but it is as timely as today’s headlines.  War rages in our world today.  People are losing their lives by the thousands to terrorist attacks, freak natural disasters and the horrors of war.  On another level, the tsunami of sin in our world is rising.  Old convictions and standards are being swept away right before our very eyes.  The winds of change are blowing all around us and fearful things are just over the horizon.

      Today, just as there was in Isaiah’s day, there is a need for the people of God to assume the role of watchman.  There is a need for us to take our stand, look at that which is approaching and open our mouths and sound the warning.