In Bible times, watchmen were of great importance to the security and well-being of a city. Ezekiel was called as a prophet to be a “watchman” for the house of Israel. He was to hear the Word of the Lord and then warn the nation. (Ezekiel 3:17) Being a watchman was a continual commitment. Isaiah describes the intensity of this position when says: “…all the day and all the night they shall never be silent…” (Isaiah 62:6) This was not a job for just one man, but watchmen were placed strategically all around the city walls and each watchman had a specific shift so that they could maintain their alertness. A watchman was a seer. He was in a position to see what others could not see and sound the trumpet for all to hear.
Just as Ezekiel was appointed by God, watchmen were divinely called and set into their positions. It is a calling, not a job. In the Old Testament, they were the prophets and seers that not only warned of coming disasters but heard from God and gave direction to the nation. They were the intercessors who “stood in the gap” for the people. This ministry continues into the New Testament but is broadened to include elders, pastors, overseers, and intercessors. To care for the spiritual state of the Church, leaders are to “watch over” those in their care. (Hebrews 13:17) To be effective, those “on the wall” needed to first watch over their own life and doctrine closely. (1 Timothy 4:16) They need to be spiritually in shape, with their eyes wide open to the enemy’s designs.
Watchmen, or overseers, are to look for where the enemy has made in-roads in the lives of the people. They are not to just be aware of these weak areas but are to say something about it to the people; warning them of the enemy’s intentions. In today’s permissive society, confrontation is generally equated with judging, and so is vehemently rejected by most. I’m sure today’s world is not so different to what we read about in the First Century Roman era. The moral state of society was probably even worse than that of today and, as today, nobody liked to be corrected. For this reason, the writer of Hebrews admonishes the Church to “obey their leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls”. (13:17) Just as the watchmen need to see and speak, the people need to hear and heed.
The Hebrew word for watchman is “shamar”. It is closely related to one of the names of God: Jehovah-Shammah, meaning the Lord is Present, or the Lord is There. This name was revealed to Ezekiel, the “watchman” for Israel, in describing the New Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 48:35) Prior to its destruction, the people had not heeded the voice of the prophets and thus were taken into slavery in Babylon. Ezekiel ends his prophecy with the revelation of a “Watchman” that never slumbers or sleeps, who is always present with His people, protecting them from all the devices of the enemy.
The Psalmist uses this word several times in describing God’s presence with us. “He who keeps (shamar) Israel will neither slumber or sleep…The Lord is your keeper (shamar)..The Lord will keep (shamar) you from all evil…The Lord will preserve (shamar) your life…The Lord will keep (shamar) your going out and your coming in from this time forward and forevermore.” (Psalms 121:3-8) The Lord as Watchman gives us overseers; the Lord as Pastor gives us pastors. He is Present always to care, nourish and protect. Just as we hear and speak, so must we hear and obey.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Isaiah 52:8; 62:6; Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 3:17-19; 33:6; Ephesians 5:16; Hebrews 13:17; Acts 20:28