Psalm 130:6
"My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning."
Week 1: Hope
To the modern reader, a "watchman" sounds like a security guard. But in the ancient world, the watchman wasn't just guarding property; he was guarding against death.
The night was dangerous. It was when armies attacked and thieves struck. The watchman stood on the wall, staring into the crushing darkness, straining his eyes for the first sign of the sun.
The repetition in the verse is intentional.
"More than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning."
It captures the exhaustion of waiting. The longing. The ache.
Advent begins here. We don't start with the celebration; we start with the ache. Hope isn't the sunrise itself; it is the absolute certainty that the sun will rise, even when you are standing in the dark.
If you are in a season of darkness today, do not despair. You are not lost; you are simply on the wall. And the morning is coming.
Who needs this reminder?
We all know someone who is currently "waiting in the dark." Be their watchman today and remind them the sun is coming.