What does Isaiah 21:8 mean?
Isaiah has answered the Lord's call, in the context of a vision, to set a watchman who will look for riders approaching the city. It seems most likely that he is watching, within his oracle, from the walls of Babylon. In this vision he is looking for the enemy riders to come attack the city and destroy it. The prophet may also picture himself on the wall of Jerusalem, looking for riders to come from Babylon with news of the battle (Isaiah 21:6–7).In either case, he reports to the Lord that he is faithfully carrying out the duty to stand guard at the watchtower. He says that he stands and watches by day and remains at his post every night. Isaiah is faithful to his calling. He is watching for the fulfillment of the terrible vision the Lord has given to him to pass on to the people of Judah (Isaiah 21:2).