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"Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion" (Isa.52:8). The immediate setting of this text is the promised return from captivity to Babylon. There would be symbolic watchers on the walls of Jerusalem and symbolic heralds hasting over the mountains to announce to the watchers the coming of the returning hosts intent on rebuilding the Temple and city. The long night of captivity is past; the day of Divine favour is come. "I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it,…and a line shall be stretched forth (out) upon Jerusalem" (Zech.1:16). Hence the stirring cry of the watchmen in the seventh verse: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,…that bringeth good tidings of good,… that saith unto Zion, 'Thy God reigneth!'" (Isa.52:7). Then come the words of our text. The rejoicing watchmen sing together because they see, face to face, the heralds of good tidings announcing the Lord returning to His sanctuary in Zion. That is what this expression "eye to eye" means. "Face to face." It only occurs in one other place in the Old Testament, in Num.14:14, where it is rendered "For…thou LORD art seen 'face to face,'" and the thought in Isa.52 is that the watchmen see clearly, face to face, the heralds of glad tidings announcing the imminent return of their God to His people. Rotherham's rendering is "Eye to eye, shall they see, when Yahweh returneth to Zion," and he further remarks on the meaning as "Probably 'face to face with the event.'" Moffatt has it: "They see the Eternal face to face as he returns to Sion." Margolis: "They shall see, eye to eye, the LORD returning to Zion." Ferrar Fenton: "When clearly you see that the Lord comes to Zion." The Septuagint confirms the thought by having "Eyes shall look to eyes, when the Lord shall have mercy upon Sion." Bible students know that this wonderful imagery was not intended solely for fulfilment in the days of Israel's return from captivity. Paul uses the seventh verse as applicable to the heralds of the Gospel, in Rom.10:15. Realising that the return under Cyrus was but a picture, a type, of the greater release from captivity which should come to spiritual Israel at the close of the Gospel Age (Christian era), and the joy which the imminent Advent of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, would inspire in the hearts of the Gospel Age "Watchers," we can discern a greater and more glorious application to these glowing words. The "Watchers" on the walls of the Holy City of this Gospel Age have waited through a long and dreary time during which the people of God have been held captive by an oppressive system which has crushed the Truth to the ground. Only a few of the "poor" have remained to be "vine‑dressers and husbandmen," but these have faithfully manned the walls watching for the promised "return." The night is far spent, the day is at hand, but as yet only the first gleams of dawn are perceptible. Then come the heralds. Hasting over the mountains, pressing toward the Holy City, so long downtrodden and oppressed, they come with glorious news. The KING is on his way. He is returning to Zion with favour. Enlightenment and prosperity is to come with Him. The captive people are loosed—even now they are on their way to commence the great work of rebuilding the Temple of God, and placing within it the golden vessels—the precious truths so long submerged under the defilements of a foreign power. How eagerly the Watchers fasten their gaze upon the heralds. They haste—therefore the news is good. Did they bring bad news their pace would be slow. They each seek to out vie the others in order to reach the city first. How beautiful the sight, heralds upon the mountains proclaiming the coming King! So they meet, face to face. No longer any doubt. The news runs round the city. Not all the watchers receive the news at once. Not all hear exactly the same story from the different heralds, all zealous to proclaim the essentials of their message. But one central truth stands out—THE KING IS AT HAND! He may be upon the mountain approach; He may even be within the city, and making Himself known to those who have perceived His entrance. There is no lack of love and zeal on the part of those who have not actually seen Him enter the gate, if so be He really is now within the walls. All are united in the one joyous theme—the time has come. "I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies." That is the story of this closing period of the Gospel Age—a period which is now well advanced. Is the King within the walls? Is He at the gates? Whether the one thing or the other, the important teaching of the text is that we are "face to face with the event." The Watchers and the Heralds have met, and their united testimony has been given. The Temple has been built; Divine Truth, things new and old, has been established in its rightful place. The work is not yet finished; the building must go on; the Temple must be adorned with yet purer and nobler vessels of truth and understanding, that the day may at length come when the great outer doors will be flung open to all mankind and the invitation come to all men to enter and walk in its light. The importance of a right understanding of this Scripture is great. It calls us to recognise the significance of the times in which we live, a period of active preparation for the day when our Lord Jesus Christ shall be manifested in His glorious apokalupsis—His revelation of Himself to all men, in association with His glorified Church, for man's blessing and salvation. How beautiful upon the mountains...the heralds...proclaiming "Thy God reigneth"...for the time of His Kingdom is come, and the day is not far hence when He shall "reign in Mount Zion, and before His ancients gloriously." AOH |
Thy
Watchmen Shall See