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Called to Be Watchmen Part 1 of 3 (Amplified Bible--Unless otherwise specified) While the safe-keeping of the people was not solely the responsibility of the watchmen, their charge was to sound the initial alarm when they saw danger approach or when they discovered it already within the city walls. Vigilantly serving as lookouts, watchmen remained alert and attentive, carefully observing and scrutinizing both that which was at hand and that which appeared in the distance. Diligent in their duties, they continued in wakefulness and watchfulness for extended periods of time. God made it clear to Isaiah that a hireling heart would be ill-suited to serve in this capacity: "For the Lord has said this to me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling [who would work no longer than was agreed], all the glory of Kedar . . . shall fall" {Isa 21:16}. Hireling-watchmen neither shun the temptations of bribery nor do they preserve at risk of their own lives. Thus, those under their watch are as much at risk as if they had no watchmen at all. Not all who are called to be watchman receive Sovereign approval: "Ephraim was [intended to be] a watchman with my God [and a prophet to the surrounding nations]; but he, that prophet, has become a fowler’s snare in all his ways..."{Hosea 9:8}. Just as the heart of the watchmen determines their faithfulness in keeping watch, so the spiritual condition of the hearers determines whether they receive or reject the word of the prophet-watchman: "The prophet is [considered] a crazed fool, and the man who is inspired is [treated as if] mad or a fanatic, because of the abundance of your iniquity and because the enmity, hostility and persecution are great" {Hosea 9:7b}. To those who do hear and heed the message of the prophet, the promise remains: "He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward" {Matt 10:41a}. Note the contrast between the self-absorbed activities of merrymakers and the actions they should have been taking in the face of imminent danger: "They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, and having set the watchers [the revelers take no other precaution], they eat, they drink. Arise, you princes, and oil your shields [for your deadly foe is at the gates]!" {Isa 21: 5}. The apostle Paul gives a similar admonition: "Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly (decently), as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts" {Rom 13:12b-14 NKJ}. Ours is a daily and often an hourly choosing: either to clothe ourselves with Christ or to gratify our carnal nature. As we submit to the Lordship of Christ, we see and hear with greater clarity the warnings of the Holy Spirit, our Watchman within. "Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth; and give them warning from Me" {Ezek 3:17}. In Old Testament times, God appointed prophets or seers. "(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he spoke thus, ‘Come, let us go to the seer’; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer)" {I Sam 9:9 NKJ}. As the head of His body, the Church, Christ has appointed those in leadership offices to serve as watchmen: "Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them--continually recognizing their authority over you; for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare" {Heb. 13:17a}. To have the watchman’s alarm go unheeded is to demonstrate extreme folly, yet how often do we disregard the warnings given us through pastors and prophets as to the things they are seeing and hearing in the realm of the spirit? To the church of Sardis, Jesus warned: "In case you do not rouse yourselves and keep awake and watch I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come" {Rev 3:3b}. Not only are there God-appointed watchman offices, but as individual members of the body, we are urged to stand guard over others and ourselves through the ministry of prayer. "Pray at all times--on every occasion, in every season--in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch, with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people)" {Eph 6:18}. -Ruth French September Newsletter 1999 | Why Am I So Miserable | Life and Death Pastor's Journal September 1998 | Righteous Jealousy | Called to Be Watchmen Part 1 of 3 Revised: August 29, 2007 . |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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