“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 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.”….Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak;”—Jesus (Luke 21:34-36); (Matthew 26:40-41)
And the
lookout called
like a lion,
“O Lord, I stand
continually on
the watchtower
by day, And
I am stationed
every night at
my guard post.
—
I will stand
at my guard post
And station
myself on
the tower;
And I will keep
watch to see
what He will
say to me,
And what answer
I will give [as
His spokesman]
when I am
reproved.
Then the Lord
answered me
and said,
“Write the vision
And engrave
it plainly on
[clay] tablets
So that the one
who reads
it will run.
“For the vision
is yet for the
appointed
[future] time
It hurries toward
the goal
of fulfillment];
it will not fail.
Even though
it delays, wait
[patiently] for it,
Because it
will certainly
come; it will
not delay.
—-
“As for
you also,
Because of
the blood of
your covenant,
I will set your
prisoners free
from the
waterless pit.
Return to the
stronghold,
You prisoners
of hope.
Even today
I declare
That I will
restore double
to you.
—-
The Lord their
God will save
them in that day,
As the flock
of His people.
For they shall
be like the
jewels of a crown,
Lifted like a
banner over
His land—
For how great
is its goodness
And how great
its beauty!
Grain shall make
the young
men thrive,
And new wine
the young women.
—-
(Isaiah 21:8; Habakkuk 2:1-3; Zechariah 9:11-12;16-17)
NOTE: shâqad, shaw-kad’; a primitive root; to be alert, i.e. sleepless; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill):—hasten, remain, wake, watch (for).
shâqêd, shaw-kade’; from H8245; the almond (tree or nut; as being the earliest in bloom):—almond (tree).
📸 Almond Blossom by Vincent van Gogh