Watchman, Tell Us of the Night

“Watchman, Tell Us of the Night” is a reflective and hopeful hymn by Sir John Bowring. It is built upon the prophetic dialogue found in Isaiah 21:11 to 12, where a cry is made to the watchman for news of the approaching morning. Bowring uses this biblical picture to illustrate the longing of the human heart for spiritual light, guidance, and assurance. The hymn presents a conversation between a seeker who desires understanding and a watchman who responds with words of hope grounded in the promises of God.

Bowring wrote the hymn in a world marked by uncertainty, conflict, and spiritual searching. His words express the struggle of those who look around and see the darkness of sin, suffering, and confusion, yet still ask whether light is on the way. The watchman points to the coming dawn, symbolizing the arrival of Christ, whose light breaks through the darkness with truth and salvation. The hymn encourages the believer to trust that God has not abandoned the world, for the Lord has promised that the morning of His redemption will surely come.

As the dialogue unfolds, the hymn moves from questioning to confident expectation. The watchman speaks of signs that confirm the nearness of God’s deliverance, and the seeker is invited to continue watching and trusting. The imagery reminds Christians that the coming of Christ brings both comfort and clarity. His first coming brought the light of grace into a dark world, and His promised return will usher in the full brightness of eternal day.

The Hymn appeared in over 800 hymnals, this hymn has been treasured for its calm yet earnest tone. It speaks to those who long for reassurance and to those who desire a deeper understanding of God’s work in difficult times. The hymn calls believers to stand watch with faith, to look toward Christ as the sure light of the world, and to rest in the promise that God’s dawn will come in His perfect time.