“THE MORNING COMETH AND ALSO THE NIGHT.”
By C. P. B.
In the twenty-first chapter of Isaiah is recorded a seemingly mysterious and contradictory prophecy, in these words: “The burden of Dumah. He calleth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night. If ye will inquire, inquire ye. Return, come.” Verses 11, 12. This language seems to have no connection with the rest of the chapter, and challenges the reader's attention by its peculiar force and solemnity. The figure used is one full of meaning. Anciently watchmen were stationed upon the walls of cities to give an alarm if danger approached, and to announce to the inhabitants the time of night, and especially the first indications of approaching day. The watchmen were held responsible for the safety of the cities over which they watched, and if danger approached and they failed to sound an alarm, they forfeited their lives. This figure is used also in Eze. 33:2-6. The Lord there says: “If the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman; if when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. . . . But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come and take any person from among them, . . . his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.” In verse 7 the application is made: “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.” Then, in view of the solemn responsibility resting upon the Lord's watchmen, what means the answer, “The morning cometh, and also the night”? In many places in the Scriptures, light and darkness, joy and sorrow, are spoken of as coming together—not, indeed, to the same individuals, but at the same time to the two classes, which alone are recognized in the word of God,—the righteous and the wicked. Thus, in speaking of the day of the Lord, the prophet Joel says: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains.” Observe the language of the last clause; clouds and thick darkness are spoken of “as the morning spread upon the mountains.” But will it be a day of darkness to the people of God? Will it not rather be to them a day of joy and gladness? Let us see. When the Lord comes “he will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth; for the Lord hath spoken it328And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa. 25:8, 9; compare with 1 Cor. 15:51-54 and 1 Thess. 4:16. From these scriptures it appears that to the righteous it will indeed be a day of triumph and rejoicing; instead of gloom and darkness, it will be to them the sunrise of a glorious eternity, the realization of “the blessed hope,” the time when their “eyes shall see the King in his beauty” and “behold the land that is very far off.” But to the wicked the coming of the Lord will be “a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness;” “for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” John, describing that day prophetically, says: “And the heavens departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond man, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Rev. 6:14-17. Well might the Lord's watchman say, “The morning cometh, and also the night.” But what reply shall we make to the all-important question, “Who shall be able to stand?” Let the Scriptures answer:— “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high. . . . Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty.” Isa. 33:14-16. The same question (in substance) is asked and answered by the psalmist; he says:— “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth [testifieth] to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.” Ps. 15. Reader, with which class do you desire to stand? Will you be among those who will call to the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them? or will you be of that number who will say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord, we have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation”? “The morning cometh and also the night,” which shall it be to you? “Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” C. P. B.