A NIGHT TO BE OBSERVANT
The Interpreter's Bible comments says of this verse:
The Passover was a time when God was watchful and vigilant to
fulfil what He had promised to do (Dt 7:6-8). So too is it a reminder
to us that we must be vigilant and watchful to fulfil what we
have promised to do, to be a people faithful to the God who has
redeemed us for good works (Dt 10:12-22).
WATCHING FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
Traditionally, we have called the Holy Day meal that we eat on
the fifteenth of Nisan "The Night to be Much Observed".
However, this name is not found anywhere in Scripture. The phrase
"Night to be much observed" was adapted from Exodus
12:42:
Ex 12:42 (NRSV) That was for the LORD a night of vigil,
to bring them out of the land of Egypt. That same night is a vigil
to be kept for the LORD by all the Israelites throughout their
generations.
So we see from these various translations that the characteristic
of this night is watching, keeping vigil, solemnly observing.
It is therefore not so much a night to be much observed,
but rather a night to remind us that we are to be observant.
As the Lord was vigilant for Israel on that night to bring them
out of Egypt, so the people of God are commanded to become vigilant
for the Lord.
Ex 12:42 (Moffatt) It is a night when the Eternal was
on watch to bring them out of Egypt, a night when all Israelites
must keep watch for the Eternal, age after age.
(NKJV) This is that night of the LORD, a solemn observance
for all the children of Israel.
(KJV) this is that night of the LORD to be observed of
all the children of Israel.
(NIV) on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil
to honor the LORD.
(NJB) The night when Yahweh kept vigil to bring them out
of Egypt must be kept as a vigil in honour of Yahweh by all Israelites.
"This was the night of Israel's birth. Yahweh stood guard
to protect it. Therefore, Israel must guard the memory of it."
(pg 926)
A fascinating thought-the night of Israel's birth! Those expecting
the arrival of a child are very observant, aren't they, especially
if there are grave threats and complications!.
Dt 4:32-35 "For ask now concerning the days that
are past, which were before you, since the day that God created
man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other,
whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like
it has been heard. 33 Did any people ever hear the voice of God
speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and
live? 34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation
for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs,
by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,
and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God
did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown,
that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none
other besides Him (the foundation of our calling is knowing
who is the One True God, and recognising who is real Son of God-Ex
20:3; Pr 30:4; Mt 24:5; Jn 17:3).
OUR NIGHT OF VIGIL
Let's go to Isaiah 66, where we find that such a deliverance will
happen again. As God was vigilant to do all that was necessary
to bring forth Israel from Egypt, so too will He again bring forth
His chosen people.
Isa 66:7-9 "Before she was in labour, she gave birth;
before her pain came, she delivered a male child. 8 Who has heard
such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made
to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For
as soon as Zion was in labour, she gave birth to her children.
9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?"
says the LORD. "Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?"
says your God.
So those who long for that birth watch and wait for the Lord.
Isa 64:1-4 Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You
would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence;
2 as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil; to make
Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble
at Your presence! 3 When You did awesome things for which we did
not look, You came down, the mountains shook at Your presence.
4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor
perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
who acts for the one who waits for Him.
The Passover is a night that reminds us that we need to be watching
and waiting for our Lord to return, soberly watching the demise
of Egypt, waiting in hope for the saints of God to be gathered
together and brought forth as a new nation, awaiting the birth
of a new kingdom.
Our Lamb has been slain and His blood covers us to protect us
from God's wrath against sin. But we still are waiting for Him
to return, as He said he would, to totally deliver us from Egypt.
We are now in our night of vigil, of watching for the Lord, of
which the Passover evening, the night of watching, is our yearly
reminder.
Ro 13:8-12 Owe no one anything except to love one another,
for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments,
"You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not
murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall
not bear false witness," "You shall not covet,"
and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this
saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment
of the law. 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is
high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer
than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day
is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and
let us put on the armor of light.
And an interesting scripture for this time of year:
Pr 20:13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
WATCHING
Just as true listening is not easy, so must we also realise that
true seeing, really watching, is not easy either.
Mt 26:40 Then He came to the disciples and found them
asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with
Me one hour?"
So not only does man have a problem with hearing, he also has
a problem with seeing, with watching. Psalm 119 has this theme
of seeing running through it.
Rev 3:2-3 "Be watchful, and strengthen the things
which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your
works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received
and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch,
I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour
I will come upon you."
Ps 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things
from Your law.
We need God's help and we need to be looking for the treasure
that is hidden in God's Law.
Ps 119:37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless
things, and revive me in Your way.
What do we like looking at? Stupidity? At things that will perish,
or at things that are eternal?
Ps 119:82 My eyes fail from searching Your word, saying,
"When will You comfort me?"
It is by no means easy. To be perseverant, diligent and watchful
is hard. We all get weary and fall asleep at times. What will
keep us awake?
Ps 119:123 My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation and
Your righteous word.
Ps 119:145-147 I cry out with my whole heart; hear me,
O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. 146 I cry out to You; save
me, and I will keep Your testimonies. 147 I rise before the dawning
of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. 148 My
eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate
on Your word.
What things do we watch in our evenings? God's word or worthless
stupidities?
Ps 119:158 I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because
they do not keep Your word.
Let's remind ourselves of some of the things over which we need
to be watchful. Scripture mentions, among other things:
Lk 21:34-36 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your
hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares
of this life (both the laid back irresponsible and workaholics
are in danger), and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For
it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of
the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you
may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come
to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."
So how are we as a Church community to fulfil the spirit of this
command to keep a vigil in honour of the Lord, at our Passover
meal and throughout the year? This is one of the parables of the
Passover-our night of watching after our Lamb has been slain to
protect us.
Mt 26:41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Finally, one last thing we are to watch for. We are to watch for
God's blessings and interventions.
Ps 123:1-2 Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell
in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the
hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her
mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He has mercy
on us.
We are to be watchful for God's intervention and blessing. There
have been and will be those who have had God's blessing right
in front of their faces and they didn't see it.
Ps 130:1-8 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD;
2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice
of my supplications. 3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You,
that You may be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in His word I do hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord More
than those who watch for the morning; yes, more than those who
watch for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with
the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Lk 19:41-44 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept
over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially
in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now
they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you
when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround
you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your
children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in
you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time
of your visitation."
If we are called by God, then we are called to life. Called to
hear, to see and to respond appropriately. As God watches over
us, we likewise are to watch. In a few evenings we will be keeping
our first Holy Day for the year, a feast, the Passover, to remind
us that our night of watching is here now.
1Co 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be
strong.