Jesse Tree Day 19: The Watchtower

Hi and welcome to our Illustrated Jesse Tree, aka our Advent devotional where we look back at the Old Testament and see God winking at us. Today’s reading? The watchtower!


The Watchtower

A Reading from the Book of Habakkuh (Habakkuh 2:1-4)

I will stand upon my watch, and fix my foot upon the tower: and I will watch, to see what will be said to me, and what I may answer to him that reproveth me.

Vineyards with Their Watch Towers, by James Tissot, c. 1886-89. Brooklyn Museum, New York, New York, United States.
Vineyards with Their Watch Towers, by James Tissot, c. 1886-89. Brooklyn Museum, New York, New York, United States.

2 And the Lord answered me, and said: Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables: that he that readeth it may run over it.

Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, by Marten van Valckenborch, c. 1580-90. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria.
Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, by Marten van Valckenborch, c. 1580-90. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria.

3 For as yet the vision is far off, and it shall appear at the end, and shall not lie: if it make any delay, wait for it: for it shall surely come, and it shall not be slack.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants, by Abel Grimmer, c. 1590s. Private collection.
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants, by Abel Grimmer, c. 1590s. Private collection.

Behold, he that is unbelieving, his soul shall not be right in himself: but the just shall live in his faith.

Descent into Limbo, by Master of the Osservanza, c. 1445. Harvard Art Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
Descent into Limbo, by Master of the Osservanza, c. 1445. Harvard Art Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.

Karina Tabone

Karina Tabone is a wife, mother of four, author, blogger, and lover of Christian artwork. She's the author of the Illustrated Rosary series, which pairs every prayer of the Rosary with beautiful religious artwork. She likes also milkshakes, sunshine, and mystery novels. Follow her on Twitter at @illustr_prayer.

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