PROPHETIC WATCHMEN (3)

“I HAVE SET WATCHMEN on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night...” – Isaiah 62:6a

God strategically sets PROPHETIC WATCHMEN for the accomplishment of His Kingdom Agenda: “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” (Isa.62:6-7). The function of watchmen is not only guarding, but praying, as most discernment will come in prayer. Watchman are to hear from the Lord and warn the people (Eze.3:17). The focus should not be on looking for the enemy, but to the Lord. Isaiah demonstrated deep heart-burden for God’s people and His City.

Today, Believers in Christ should be just as concerned for the Church, the City of God. The Bible presents three positions for watchmen. First, the Watchmen on the City Walls, as noted here by Isaiah (vv.6-7). Second, watchmen on surveillance: “The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, “Have you seen the one I love?” (Song of Solomon 3:3). Third, watchmen on the hills or countryside: “For there shall be a day when the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God’” (Jer. 31:6).

These three categories represent three classes of prophetic watchmen in the church.

The first set had elevated visibility of the city’s outside and inside, and were trained to recognize both the enemy and their brethren from a great distance. However, they had no authority to confront either, but simply informed the elders at the gates who could command that the gates be opened or to sound the alarm. The watchmen appointed to walk inside of the city could more closely observe activities within, make a way for the king or the nobility who were passing, and recognize and confront disorderly or unlawful behavior by their brethren. They could apprehend violators, but could not imprison them or impose sentences, which was solely the duty of the elders who served as judges.

The watchmen on the hills patrolled the borders and countryside, could see either the enemy or the nobility long before they reached the city, and distinguish their countrymen from enemies or trading foreigners. They also had no authority to call for military mobilization, but communicated their observations with the elders who had the authority. The Lord is setting spiritual watchmen in His Church: Some are watching within, for the movement of the King, to make a way for Him, and to recognize and report to the elders any disorderly or unlawful behavior. Some have a place of vision that enables them to see both inside and outside of the church, while some are called mainly to move around as scouts in the world, spotting threats such as the rise of cults, impending persecution, or satanic storms of deception.