Reading: Ezekiel 29 - 33
My Verse: "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" (Ezekiel 33:7).
What a wonderfully intriguing metaphor. Watchmen sat in towers in ancient times to watch for danger. Most cities had great walls built around them with turrets for the watchmen to position themselves in to keep a watch. The agrarian societies also had to have towers near their fields to guard them from thieves and animals as this was their main food source. Watchmen were terribly important to these societies. Here Ezekiel is designated by You, LORD God as a watchman for Israel. But he was not just watching out for physical danger but for the very souls of the people.
This idea of "watching out" for the souls of the people is brought up frequently in the New Testament.
"Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.
They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.
Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden,
for that would be of no advantage to you" (Hebrews 13:17).
What an incredible task church leaders have! I like how this is stated in a study I read.
"Just as a watchman on the walls of Jerusalem would be scanning the horizon, watching for anything that could cause trouble to his people, so the leaders of the church are meant to keep watch over the souls of the people, that they would be cared for spiritually."
But the church leaders are not the only ones tasked with "being on watch!" We are all to be alert and aware of the dangers of the enemy. As Paul told Timothy.
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world" (1 Peter 5:6-9).
I like how it was pointed out in one of my readings that a good watchman was ever watchful for any kind of disturbance that might indicate danger. He wouldn't just brush it off but investigated anything that appeared out of the ordinary and then dealt with it accordingly. We too need to do that in our daily lives - ever vigilant to anything that may bring us into the danger of straying from You, LORD God!
We also need to be alert and aware of our particular weaknesses - as we are flawed and each of us do have weak areas in our natures that can cause us to fall. Nehemiah 4: 7-15 is a beautiful illustration of this. They were rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem and there were gaps or low areas they were not able to repair as quickly as needed. They had to put "watches" at these particular weak spots so the enemy would not overwhelm them.
I like in this story how Nehemiah reminded the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the LORD, who is great and awesome." Yes, we do need to take action and do what we are able but always remembering that You, LORD God are there to help us, enable us to resist the enemy.
Psalms 121:5 reminds us that we cannot do the "watching" on our own. If we try to do so without You, LORD God, it would be for nought!
'Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain."
Yes, we are called on to be on guard, be alert and watchful but always trusting in You, LORD God for in the end it is You who are the Watchman of our souls!
"I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep your from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore." (Psalm 121)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "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" (Ezekiel 33:7).
What a wonderfully intriguing metaphor. Watchmen sat in towers in ancient times to watch for danger. Most cities had great walls built around them with turrets for the watchmen to position themselves in to keep a watch. The agrarian societies also had to have towers near their fields to guard them from thieves and animals as this was their main food source. Watchmen were terribly important to these societies. Here Ezekiel is designated by You, LORD God as a watchman for Israel. But he was not just watching out for physical danger but for the very souls of the people.
This idea of "watching out" for the souls of the people is brought up frequently in the New Testament.
"Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.
They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.
Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden,
for that would be of no advantage to you" (Hebrews 13:17).
What an incredible task church leaders have! I like how this is stated in a study I read.
"Just as a watchman on the walls of Jerusalem would be scanning the horizon, watching for anything that could cause trouble to his people, so the leaders of the church are meant to keep watch over the souls of the people, that they would be cared for spiritually."
But the church leaders are not the only ones tasked with "being on watch!" We are all to be alert and aware of the dangers of the enemy. As Paul told Timothy.
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world" (1 Peter 5:6-9).
I like how it was pointed out in one of my readings that a good watchman was ever watchful for any kind of disturbance that might indicate danger. He wouldn't just brush it off but investigated anything that appeared out of the ordinary and then dealt with it accordingly. We too need to do that in our daily lives - ever vigilant to anything that may bring us into the danger of straying from You, LORD God!
We also need to be alert and aware of our particular weaknesses - as we are flawed and each of us do have weak areas in our natures that can cause us to fall. Nehemiah 4: 7-15 is a beautiful illustration of this. They were rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem and there were gaps or low areas they were not able to repair as quickly as needed. They had to put "watches" at these particular weak spots so the enemy would not overwhelm them.
I like in this story how Nehemiah reminded the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the LORD, who is great and awesome." Yes, we do need to take action and do what we are able but always remembering that You, LORD God are there to help us, enable us to resist the enemy.
Psalms 121:5 reminds us that we cannot do the "watching" on our own. If we try to do so without You, LORD God, it would be for nought!
'Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain."
Yes, we are called on to be on guard, be alert and watchful but always trusting in You, LORD God for in the end it is You who are the Watchman of our souls!
"I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep your from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore." (Psalm 121)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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