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Watchmen On the Walls … Who Are They?

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MY MORNING READING  took me to Isaiah 62:6-7. Who are these “watchmen” and what should they be doing?

I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent
And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

One thing sure about watchmen (and I can verify this from my own military experience), they must stay vigilant. To get caught sleeping on watch is a serious charge. Watching is a job that is much more focused on the comfort and safety of others than on oneself. Many homes today use an electronic watchman–a security system–that allows the residents to sleep peacefully, knowing they will be alerted to fire, a gas leak or an intruder. The job of the watchman is about as serious as a job can get.

They shall never hold their peace day or night … these watchmen are to not only be vigilant, but they are to sound the alarm without delay. They are not to hold back on what they see. And–for these particular watchmen–it appears from the text that they see a Jerusalem that is not being praised, a Jerusalem that is apparently not being blessed.

Does Isaiah 62 refer to the city of Jerusalem or to the Church?

Some theologians spiritualize Scripture entirely. They see references to Israel and Jerusalem as concrete examples pointing to a Heavenly truth. Others argue for a literal interpretation of the Bible. It seems to me that every lesson in Scripture has both a literal and a spiritual application. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his own son, for instance, was an actual event designed to test Abraham’s commitment to the Father–but it also pointed ahead to the Father’s own willingness to give his own Son.

Whatever your own view, think of this: Is Jerusalem honored and praised throughout the world today? You need not look far to find those who hate Jerusalem, who want to destroy her, who continually speak hatred against her people.

And how about the Christian Church? How is it faring in the opinion polls? Have you heard much in the way of good reports in the news about her lately–or is the Church being slammed as a gathering place for hypocrites and con men?

Isaiah says the watchmen God has set should give Him “no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

So, who are those watchmen?

My guess is that those who are called to pray for Jerusalem (and/or) the Church will feel the call of the Holy Spirit to watch and pray. Who are those watchmen? You could be one of them. I could be one of them.

Today, let’s listen to the voice of the Lord and find out. Today, let’s not forget to pray that the Lord establish His people in righteousness–that He draws us so strongly to Himself that others can see Him in us.

(Illustration: László Mednyánszky [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

How to Know the Will of God

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Rembrandt painting on Roadturn Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know the will of God? Can you imagine the peace and assurance one could experience by knowing for sure that the path ahead is the right place to be?

You have probably heard or read about the primary means of finding the will of God, right? Most sources say you can know God’s will through scripture, through prayer and through the Church. God does not leave you an orphan in the world, but has prepared means of guiding you along the Way.

So why do you suffer? Why are you confused? Why does life hurt?

You’re not alone, you know. I ask those same questions of myself. And I wonder whether I’ve missed something along the way. Others seem to fit so well into their lives. I struggle to catch up to mine. How can I think of myself as a man of God when I fail so often? How can I be rude and selfish and afraid when I claim the Creator of the universe as my Father?

This is normally the point in the story where a new idea is introduced–an “Ah-hah” moment where a fresh angle is introduced, a new teaching, perhaps, or some gadget to make everything better.

I don’t have any of that, though. But I do have this message from God, one the Spirit gave through the mouth of Azariah:

Listen to me, Asa! he shouted. Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you. For a long time, Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without God’s law. But whenever you were in distress and turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him out, you found him. (2 Chronicles 15, Divrei-HaYamim Bet)

When we fumble in the darkness of unbelief; when we set our eyes on circumstance rather than promise … it isn’t God who has moved. He is unchanging. He is waiting for us to seek Him in Spirit and in Truth.

When I look at my prayer life, it is plain to see I have barely made a beginning. When I look at my focus on the Word, on my “Seeking first the Kingdom,” I am embarrassed. I want the rewards of the Father without having to live with Him. I want the comfort of His house, while I remain in my own.

Looked at in that manner, the solution to my dilemma isn’t far away. I’m not talking about “Salvation by works” here. I’m talking about Faith that proves itself by what it does. Men and women of God trust Him. Men and women of God seek His face.

Genuine religion is more than lip service, though. It may show up at Sunday meeting or Sabbath celebration, but the life of a disciple is formed in the prayer closet and by paying attention to the Word.

Help me, Lord, know you better. Help me, Lord, seek you more. Help me, Lord … that I, in turn, might help others.

Amen.

Thank you to Wikimedia Commons for the photo of a Rembrandt work [Public domain]