In our current world, we rely on technology to provide much of our protection from potential enemies. Satellites, drones, computers, weapons of war.
But in the past, that wasn’t the case. People used to build walls around their cities to protect themselves from potential attacks. And on those walls, they would station “watchmen” to constantly scan the countryside and to give the people warning if an army was coming their way.
When God called the prophet Ezekiel to warn the people of Israel about their sins, He used the example of a watchman to make it clear to Ezekiel the importance of his job.
“The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.
“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”
Ezekiel 33 (ESV)
The job of a watchman is still important.
As we begin a new year, I want to encourage those of you who are Christians to accept the role that God has given you to be a watchman.
We live in a society and a world that is collapsing around us.
And God has chosen for you to be alive at this time.
Ask the Lord to give you opportunities this year to share with people who don’t know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16
Be a good watchman to the people God has placed in your life.
I’d like to share a blessing with you from the Old Testament.
“May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26 (The Living Bible)
Until next time … be the reason someone smiles today
The Duty of the Watchman