THE NIGHT WATCHES
“The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?” (Isaiah 21:11)
The night watches can be classified in two categories. One category of the Old Testament which records Three Watches and the New Testament which records Four Watches.
A. The Old Testament Night Watches (Hours of Prayer)
1) The First Watch (Lamentations 2:19)
This usually takes place between 6pm and 10pm. It’s usually a time of intense intercession and seeking God’s face and intervention.
2) The Middle Watch/ Midnight Watch (Judges 7:19)
This usually takes place between 10pm and 3am. This is the time of raiding the enemy’s camp and taking control. It’s a time of spiritual battle to overcome the enemy. The danger of this watching is that it can make you preoccupied with the enemy such that it becomes difficult to meditate on God’s word.
3) The Morning Watch (Exodus 14:24, 1Samuel 11:11, Psalms 130:6)
This usually takes place between 3am and 6am. The presence and power of God is heavily felt at the morning watch.
The Lord wipes out the enemy’s forces and armies that may rise against you giving you victory in the morning watch.
B. The New Testament Watches (hours of prayer)
1) The Evening Watch (Matt. 8:16, 14:23, Mark 1:32,34)
This usually takes place between 6pm and 9pm. The NT puts the focus of this watch on restoration, healing deliverance and rejuvenation in the presence of God.
2) The Midnight Watch (Acts 5:19, 12:6-17)
This usually takes place between 9pm and 12am. NT places this watch as a time for intense prayers, supplication and intercession for God’s intervention.
3) The Cock Crow (Matt. 26:34-45, Mark 14:30-42 Luke 22:39-46)
This usually takes place between 12am and 3am. It’s a time for spiritual warfare, resisting the devil’s guises, conquering, overcoming and mortifying the flesh.
4) The Fourth Watch/ Morning Watch (Matt. 14:25, Mark 1:35,16:2, John 21:4)
This watch is associated with spiritual victory, nourishment and empowerment. It’s a time for fresh oil and fresh anointing.
JUST AS THE NIGHT WATCHES, THE DAY TOO HAS WATCHES.
THE DAY
And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: Isaiah:21:8
THE DAYTIME WATCHES / TIMES OF PRAYER
The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Lev. 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps. 55:17). The evening, morning and at noon.
The morning watch and “The heat of the day” (1 Sam. 11:11; Neh. 7:3) which was at our nine o’clock, and from noon, and then “the cool of the day” just before sunset (Gen. 3:8).
Which then generally provides us with: –
1) The morning watch – 9.00am to noon,
2) The heat of the day – Noon to 3.00pm
3) The cool of the day – 3.00pm to 6.00pm
In the New Testament the division of the Greeks and Romans into four watches was adopted (Mark 13:35). This became applicable to both night and day watches.
The division of the day by hours is first mentioned in Dan. 3:6, 15; 4:19; 5:5. This mode of reckoning was borrowed from the Chaldeans. The reckoning of twelve hours was from sunrise to sunset, and accordingly the hours were of variable length (John 11:9).
There are frequent references in Scripture to the duties of watchmen who were appointed to give notice of the approach of an enemy (2 Sam. 18:24-27; 2 Kings 9:17-20; Isa. 21:5-9).
They were sometimes placed for this purpose on watch-towers (2 Kings 17:9; 18:8). Ministers or teachers are also spoken of under this title (Jer. 6:17; Ezek. 33:2-9; Heb. 13:17).
With the new Testament’s four watches we thus have:
1) The Early Morning watches: 6.00am – 9.00am (1Sam.1:19)
2) Morning 9.00am – 12.00 noon / mid day
3) The heat of the day 12.00 noon – 3.00pm
4) The cool of the day 3.00 – 6.00pm
1) The Morning Watches
The morning watches are quite vibrant and forming moments.
These are the times for preparation, for a journey, it is the time for departure. (Gen.22:3). It is the time to eat up, to consume or to devour, the time to use up or to destroy. (Gen. 49:27)
It is the time to issue commands, you command the day. (Ex. 8:20). This is the time to trouble the enemy. (Ex. 14:24) This is the time of offering sweet incense or sweet prayers before the Lord. (Ex. 30:7. It is the time of worship (1Sam. 1:19). This is the time to execute judgment (Jer.21:12). It is the time to have dominion. (PSA. 49:14)
2) The heat of the day.
These are tumultuous times. It is time for war and to prepare for war. (Jer. 6:4). There is oppression, spoiling, darkness and no success for those that are in darkness. (Deut. 28:29). At this time there is death (2 Kings 4:20). There is destruction at noon day. (Psa. 91:6). It is also the time you see visions and have trances. (Acts 10:9-17)
3) The cool of the day
These are victorious times. This is the time of prayer. (Acts 3:8 / Psa. 141:2). It is the time of God’s visitation. (Gen. 3:8)
It is time of offering sacrifices and sweet incense / sweet prayers. (2 Chron. 13:11). It is the time of worship, adoration and lifting up of hands. (Ezra 9:5). It is time of rejoicing, triumph. (Psa. 65:8)
SHALOM!!
Apostle Jesse Jackson Mirega 