Watchmen On the Wall
Watchmen. One called on to guard or protect through watching over. [NT] also means sleepless or staying awake.
Ezekiel 3:16/ And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.[i] /
Three Hebrew words for Watchman are: NATSAR, SHAMAR & TSAPHAH
They are translated as ‘observe’, ‘see’, and ‘behold.’ Jesus told His disciples to keep watching and praying (Matt. 26:41)
If we continue to watch, the H.G. will cause us to see things that need prayer.
Proverbs 29:18/ Where there is no vision, the people perishf: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he[ii] /
The word ‘VISION’ doesn’t just refer to plans or dreams concerning the future. It is translated from the Hebrew word chazown, which literally means ‘a mental sight, a dream, a vision, a revelation or a prophecy. In other words, it means any form of communication from God to us. A good interpretation of the verse could say, “where there is no communication from God, the people perish.”
The word ‘PERISH’ in Hebrew means to make bare or naked. Moses when he came off the mountain found the people naked and uncovered in false worship. So the full interpretation of the verse reads, ‘WITHOUT COMMUNICATION FROM GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE PEOPLE ARE UNCOVERED.” Our job as watchmen are to seek God’s direction, protection and guideance for the covering of our homes, our churches and wherever we walk as men of God.
1. Soldiers generally acted as. Mt 27:65,66.
/Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.[iii] /
2. Were stationed
a. On watch towers. 2Ki 9:17; Isa 21:5.
/5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. 6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.[iv] /
b. On the walls of cities. Isa 62:6.
/6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence[v] /
c. In the streets of cities. Ps 127:1.
d. Around the temple in Jerusalem on special occasions. 2Ki 11:6.
3. In time of danger
a. Increase in number. Jer 51:12.
/12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushesc[vi] /
b. Vigilant night and day. Ne 4:9; Isa 21:8.
9 /Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.[vii]/
c. Reported the approach of all strangers. 2Sa 18:24-27; 2Ki 9:18-20; Isa 21:6,7,9.
d. Sounded an alarm at the approach of enemies. Eze 33:2,3.
4. Be alert for wolves and careless ministers Isa 56:10-11
/10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleepingb, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yea, they are greedyc dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.[viii] /
5. Vigilance of, vain without God’s protection. Ps 127:1.
/Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.[ix] /
6. Hope of Glory (Rms 5:2)
(Looking for the morning,) of anxious waiting for God. Ps 130:5,6.
/5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watcha for the morning[x] /
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[i] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Eze 3:16-17
f perish: or, is made naked
[ii] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Pr 29:18
[iii] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Mt 27:65-66
[iv] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Is 21:5-6
[v] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Is 62:6
c ambushes: Heb. liers in wait
[vi] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Je 51:12
[vii] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Ne 4:9
b sleeping: or, dreaming, or, talking in their sleep
c greedy: Heb. strong of appetite
[viii] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Is 56:10-11
[ix] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Ps 127:1
a I say...: or, which watch unto
[x] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Ps 130:5-6