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International Secretary's Column: 'Watchman what is left of the Night' by Commissioner Lalkiamlova
The voice was calling from Seir 'Watchman what is left of the night?' 'Watchman what is left of the night'? The watchman replied and said: “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.”
Seir is a mountain in Edom, the land which was the portion of Esau the brother of Jacob. Esau met Jacob on his return from exile in Paddan Aram to his maternal uncle. When Jacob politely refused all the help offered, Esau went back to Seir (Genesis 33: 16). After this the Bible records them meeting together only once, which was at the burial of their father Isaac (Genesis 35: 29). Thereafter all the stories concerning Esau and Jacob and their descendants in the Bible are contemptuous.
The land of Edom is at the south end of the Promised Land. One had to cross Edom to enter to the Promised Land from the south. So, the Israelites, when they came out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses wanted to use the king's highway that went through Edom. Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom. Saying: “This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come upon us. Our forefathers went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians ill-treated us and our fathers, but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the king's highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory”. The reply to this polite request by the Edomites is “You may not pass through here; if you try, we will come out and attack you with the sword” (Numbers 20: 14 – 18).
On the day Jerusalem fell, Psalms 137: 7 tells us that the Edomites were jubilant and said “tear it down, tear it down to its foundation”. The book of the Prophet Obadiah is all about the Edomites and God's anger against them because of their feud against their brother Israel. They lived on the mountain and considered their position safe but the Lord can bring them down even if they soar like an eagle and make their nest among the stars (Obadiah 3, 4).
Now from their lofty position they called out scornfully to the watchman of their brother Israelites who were in captivity 'what is left of the night' means 'how long will you still be in captivity'? 'How long will you suffer under the wrath of your God'? The watchman replies with love, inviting them to return to the Lord saying: “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask: and come back yet again.” Our day of captivity is almost over; when morning has come for us it will be night for you. It will be a day of doom for you. Therefore, repent and come back to your Lord. Jesus said: Love your enemies, do good to those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you (Luke 6:27). Paul who lived with this teaching said: “... when we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly (1 Corinthians 4: 12). What about us?
Commissioner Lalkiamlova is the International Secretary of South Asia zone, London
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