The Watch (3)

Watchfulness

The Bible in the New Testament tells us Of those who are assigned as “Watchmen;” at the time after Jesus’ body was buried in the tomb. The place where He was buried belonged to Joseph of Arimathea.

Matthew 27:65-66 ““I will send soldiers to guard the tomb,” Pilate replied. “Go with them and make the tomb as secure as possible.” So they left and sealed the stone, and Pilate’s soldiers secured the tomb.”

Then after the soldiers talked with Pilate and the religious leaders, they agreed to place guards at the tomb where Jesus is buried and they sealed the entrance of it with a huge stone.

Therefore, soldiers were watchmen or guards in the New Testament.

In the Old Testament citizens were oftentimes placed as guards or watchmen.

Nehemiah 7:3 “And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.””

It was Nehemiah who appointed the selected citizens of Jerusalem to guard their own property. Thus securing the city from enemy attack.

Nehemiah directed the people to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem after their return from exile.

When Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall after hearing of the state of his people/the Jews who had returned to their homeland after being in exile.

They were held in captivity by the Assyrians. The Assyrians invaded Samara. 2 Kings 17:6 “In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.”

The Assyrians captured and deported Israel because of their sinful behavior against God. He brought judgment upon them because they participated in customs of surrounding nations. They begin to worshiping false gods, following pagan customs and they chose to go about their own way of life.

So, God allowed the Assyrians to invade Samaria. Assyria was God’s instrument to bring judgment against Israel. 2 Kings 17:5-6 “Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.”

Now when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to rebuild, Nehemiah heard about the hardship the people were faced with as they begin to build the wall around Jerusalem.

So Nehemiah gain permission from King Artaxerxes of Persia. While in captivity, Nehemiah became the Royal Cup bearer for the king. Nehemiah 1:11 “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.”

Nehemiah 2:1-5 “In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.””

Before makes his way, Nehemiah prays for his homeland and he asks the Lord to forgive the sin and rebellion of His people.

After hearing Nehemiah concerns about his homeland, the king grants Nehemiah permission to go back to his homeland to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.

When he arrived Nehemiah observed in the night that the city’s wall which was for their defence was in need of repair.

So he challenged the rulers of Jerusalem to rebuild the defensive wall around the city.

With that been said, Nehemiah and those who were going to work with him with the project, were met with opposition.

Although he was met with opposition, Nehemiah continued to pray; he prayed to God for guidance and protection as they took on the task.

Therefore, Nehemiah 7:1-4 “Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.” “Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,”

So the wall had been rebuilt, doors replaced. Those who were gatekeepers were put into place and so were the singers-the Levites, the people were set to give praises to God. To give the people of Jerusalem comfort, Nehemiah appointed civil leaders to provide security for the city of Jerusalem.

Let’s turn our thoughts back to the tomb where Jesus was placed by Joseph of Arimathea, after he inquired for His body after the crucifixion. Then the religious leaders talked with Pilate, agreeing to place guards at the tomb where Jesus is buried and the grave was sealed with a large stone to secure the place where Jesus’ body was buried.

So now let’s as the Holy Spirit moves the message. Let’s hear how watchmen were used and were posted as seeing eyes to protect and secure.

First they were stationed on watch towers, wall of cities, in the streets of the cities and they were posted around the temple in Jerusalem on special occasions.

The watchtower watch is explained in 2 Kings 9:17 “Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’ ””

Matthew 27:65-66 ““I will send soldiers to guard the tomb,” Pilate replied. “Go with them and make the tomb as secure as possible.” So they left and sealed the stone, and Pilate’s soldiers secured the tomb.”

In 2 Kings 9:17 “Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’ ””

Now this watchman stood on the tower we understand that a tower is a tall structure. Here we are told that the watchman was place on-standing on it in a place called Jezreel.

Jezreel is an important place/city which over looks the Plain on the South in the border of the tribe of Issachar. The Israelites at one time encamped themselves as they battled with the Philistines. The tribe of Issachar is named after Leah an Jacob fifth son. Joshua 19:23 “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Issachar, according to their clans—the cities with their villages.”

Jacob had to flee from his brother Esau’s anger, Genesis 27:41-45 “Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran and stay with him a while, until your brother’s fury turns away— until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?””

So when he arrives in the place where his uncle lived he meets Rachel first as she was watching her father’s sheep.

Jacob begin to work for his uncle Laban his mother’s brother. The uncle discussed with Jacob what his wages would be, so for payment Jacob told his uncle that his wages should be the giving of his younger daughter Rachel, he asked for her hand in marriage because he had fallen in love with her.

At the time of the agreement Laban, Jacob’s uncle seemed to agree to allow the marriage to take place. But when the time came for the union between Jacob and Rachel, Laban substituted Leah for her. This was done because it was customary to give the older daughter in marriage before the younger.

Now the reason why Jacob found himself there in Haran because he had stolen his brother Esau’s birthright. And now he had to accept Leah who was older instead of Rachel the younger whom he loved.

A few more statements about Jacob family background and we will onward.

He was the younger son of Isaac and Rebekah. He took his twin brother’s Esau’s birthright. When they were born Genesis 25:26 “Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.”

Again 2 Kings 9:17 “Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’ ””

The watchman stood on the wall to keep watch for any trouble that might be headed toward Jezreel. Often times when a large company on horsemen appeared denoted trouble was on its way to the people. In this case Joram was leading the company of horsemen.

The watchman on the wall was to find out from the approaching company of horsemen what was their reason for coming. And once Joram was told of the approaching company on horsemen, he then told the person on the watch tower to find out the business of the approaching company of horsemen.

Joram said, “take a horseman and send to meet them, and let hin say, ‘Is it peace?”