Isaiah 56:10-12 – “His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs which never have enough. And they are shepherds who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory. 12 “Come,” one says, “I will bring wine, and we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant.” NKJV
Isaiah is describing a very sad condition when
Isaiah is describing a very sad condition when ‘watchmen’ do not do what they are called to do. Ezekiel identified God’s call for His people to be ‘watchmen on the walls’ and to warn of danger. Israel has always had many enemies and many cities including Jerusalem had high thick walls to keep the enemies out but walls could be breached therefore the need for early warning of impending danger or attack. Israel’s guards stood upon the walls and in the towers and sounded the alarm if danger neared. The Hebrew word for ‘watchman’ is [tsapah] which means, “To lean forward, to peer into the distance; by implication means to observe, behold, spy out, wait for, and keep watch.”
Isaiah described the negligence of God’s appointed watchmen calling them “blind, ignorant and dumb dogs”. They were giving no warning but rather they were sleeping and exercising greed. He was speaking of shepherds or leaders, those charged with the oversight and care of the flock or people. They were self-centered, caring for their own desires, positions, pocketbooks, etc. rather than the people. They were becoming intoxicated with pleasure ignoring danger and thereby failing God and the people.
Some tell me, “Roy, a Christian should never be involved in politics.” Let me ask, “Does politics affect your life or livelihood?” God has given us LIFE both spiritual and natural and if we are going to be good stewards of that life we must, as leaders, be on the alert for danger and sound the alarm when it is impending. Failure to do so places us in the category Isaiah described and you can rest assured God was not pleased with those ‘watchmen’.
When I have presented this argument some have countered saying, “Well that was Old Testament and we are under the New so it does not apply today.” We are to walk in love and obey those that have the rule over us. Yes we are and yes we do but we are also commissioned to watch over the flock of God. Acts 20:28 declares, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Therefore, pastor you are a watchman whether you want to be or not and have a responsibility to yourself, your congregation and God to SOUND THE ALARM on all fronts when there is impending danger and that includes the political. In a measure, every believer is to be a “watchman” and warn of impending danger.
We need to recognize we are in a WAR and that root of that war being played out in the natural is a SPIRITUAL WAR. We are not warning with flesh and blood but flesh and blood are being used in this warfare. Flesh and blood are imposing danger upon lives and unless there is a warning cry many will be overcome and destroyed by that evil imposed. 1 Peter 5:6-9, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7. Casting all your anxiety (care) on Him, because He cares for you. 8. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren around the world.” BE ON GUARD and if you SEE SOMETHING then SAY SOMETHING!
We can rest in the assurance given by the Psalmist in 121:4-5, “…He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you – – the LORD is your shade at your right hand…” Beloved, if we are going to be good stewards of this life God has granted us both natural and spiritual we must be vigilant, alert, on guard and sound the alarm when we see impending and imposing danger coming. If it is simply a bad political policy or a life or death danger we must SOUND THE ALARM. We must both WATCH and PRAY!
God bless you as you go through this day!
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