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ATCHMAN, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night. (Isaiah 21:11-12)
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ELL ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. (Matthew 21:5-11)
This being the week just before Advent Sunday, it is proper to remember and old Advent hymn composed by John Bowring (1792-1872). The hymn was written in 1828. The tune, entitled MASON, was composed by Lowell Mason in 1830.
After the darkness of ages, from Malachi to the coming of John the Baptist (400 years), there was no spiritual light or word from Heaven. A smothering spiritual darkness filled the land as a prelude to the coming of that brilliant Light of Christ at Christmas. This hymn sets the stage for our Advent and Christmas expectations.
Watchman, Tell Us of the Night
Watchman, tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are.
Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s height,
See that glory beaming star.
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
Aught of joy or hope foretell?
Traveler, yes—it brings the day,
Promised day of Israel.
Watchman, tell us of the night;
Higher yet that star ascends.
Traveler, blessedness and light,
Peace and truth its course portends.
Watchman, will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveler, ages are its own;
See, it bursts o’er all the earth.
Watchman, tell us of the night,
For the morning seems to dawn.
Traveler, darkness takes its flight,
Doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman, let thy wanderings cease;
Hie thee to thy quiet home.
Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace,
Lo! the Son of God is come!
1 Watchman, tell us of the night, what its signs of promise are. Traveler, o’er yon mountain height: see that glory-beaming star. Watchman, does its beauteous ray aught of joy or hope foretell? Traveler, yes; it brings the day, promised day of Israel. The watchmen and prophets of ancient Israel had proclaimed God’s promise of a coming Savior describing even the time and place of His coming. The signs of the watchman was simply revealed in Holy Scripture. The dawning Light burst over the eastern mountains to lead the way, not only to the Wise Men, but also to you and I to the glorious event. The effulgent Light of that Bright and Morning Star burst upon a world bathed in smothering darkness – so much so, that many men were blinded by its message. This coming would fulfill the promise of God to His people – and ALL of faith in ?Christ are His chosen people.
2 Watchman, tell us of the night; higher yet that star ascends. Traveler, blessedness and light, peace and truth its course portends. Watchman, will its beams alone gild the spot that gave them birth? Traveler, ages are its own; see, it bursts o’er all the earth. As that Star approached ever nearer, its beams grew more intense in beauty and wonder. How could the King of Glory deign to live among those who were His enemies, and even give His life in redemption of their sorry souls? The Bright and Morning Star arose in the East in like manner of that Sun of Righteousness to arise at the last day. Thought that Star of Bethlehem stood still over Bethlehem, its warm beams spread across the western and easter continents of thew world. This was the Coming of the Ancient of Days prophesied by Daniel the Prophet during the first year of Belshazzar in Babylon (see Daniel 7:9)
3 Watchman, tell us of the night, for the morning seems to dawn. Traveler, darkness takes its flight; doubt and terror are withdrawn. Watchman, let thy wand’rings cease; Hie thee to thy quiet home.. Traveler, lo, the Prince of Peace, Lo, Emmanuel has come! The dawn of the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ was an eternal dawning of Light upon those of faith. For the traveling pilgrim who traversed land and sea seeking that Kingdom promised in ancient days, the dark forebodings of power of the Serpent’s blinding darkness had passed as Light was shown upon those who walked in darkness. “14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:14-16), and The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)
There are still yet pockets of darkness in the world for want of that same Light that blessed the hearts of the faithful so many years ago. It is not a darkness of the absence of light, but a self-imposed darkness of the soul that prevents the light from penetrating the morass of darkness and sin that has engulfed societies and even nations. Wherever that Light shines freely, there is Liberty, for Christ is the Author and grantor of Liberty.
