Watchman, What of the Night
H. Bonar, D. D. Revelation 2:1-7 To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things said he that holds the seven stars in his right hand… The mention made of "stars" and "candlesticks" (or rather "lamp-stands") shows that it is night. It is the world's night; it is the Church's night. Day needs no lamps nor stars; night does both, for the outside earth and the inside chamber. I. WHO IS HE THAT THUS WALKETH? It is as Priest and King that He appears in the midst of His Churches: as such they are to acknowledge Him. In the Epistle to the Hebrews we see Him specially as Priest; in the Book of Revelation as King. II. WHERE DOES HE WALK? Among the seven golden candlesticks. III. WHAT DOES THIS WALKING MEAN? 1. He is near. A present Christ is specially taught us here — Jesus in the midst of His saints and His Churches. He is near to all of them, even the backsliding; as near to Laodicea and Sardis as to Ephesus and Philadelphia. 2. He watches over them. "I know thy works." His eye, the eye of the watchful Priest and King, the eye of the watchful Saviour and Shepherd, is upon them. He inspects them, oversees them, cares for them, values them, delights in them, takes all interest in their welfare. 3. He supplies their need. All His fulness is at hand for each of them. 4. He mourns over their sins. His holy eye detects the sin; His loving heart mourns over it. There is no anger, no fury here. All is gentleness and grace. 5. He cheers them with the promise of victory and recompense. As if He would say to each, "Fight on, for I am with you; faint not, for I, with all My fulness, am near. Shine on, for I delight in your brightness, and will enable you to shine. And My reward is with Me: to him that overcometh!" (H. Bonar, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; WEB: "To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: "He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things: