The Watchman

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

At my home church here in Muncie, Indiana, my friend, Matthew Shaw, (also a H-F
member) and I compose a monthly newsletter.  The following is a brief essay from
an issue a few months ago.  [It's brief for an essay, but *not* for an email
message so I won't be offended (or surprised) if it gets deleted by many.]
=)  I post this essay to the list in appreciation to our pastors here on the
list and throughought God's Kingdom.  Enjoy!


==============================================


The Watchman
Written by: Kirk Van Ooteghem

        God speaks to us in many different ways through His sacred,
inerrant Word: the Bible.  The Holy Scripture is intended to be interpreted
literally, for it is not a mysterious book filled with hidden secrets.
However, while much of God's Word is obvious in its meaning and purpose,
there are some portions of the Bible in which the deeper spiritual
significance is more subtle.  This is especially true with respect to the
Old Testament.  It is true that one may glean many simple lessons of faith,
courage, righteousness, obedience and other important areas from a literal
assessment of familiar excerpts from the Old Testament.  However, it is
equally true that many of the basic illustrations of the Old Testament have
a more profound meaning that God intended to be an instructive tool for His
people in the New Testament era.  Therefore, in addition to the direct
meaning of many Scriptures in the Old Testament, there may also be
allegorical, prophetic, symbolic and typical meanings that the Church
should understand in light of the doctrinal truths that have been
delineated by God through the New Testament.  This concept may be
accurately referred to as Progressive Revelation.
        A beautiful example of the concept of Progressive Revelation is
found in the references to the office of the watchman.  On the surface, the
profession of the watchman appears to be merely an occupation that was made
necessary by the violent society that characterized the ancient world.
However, closer consideration reveals that the position of the watchman was
not only a secular career, but also a symbol of the office of the Old
Testament prophet and a type of the office of the pastor in the New
Testament age.
        The watchman was, in fact, an occupation the Bible dates back to
the time of the first King of Israel, Saul  (I Sam. 14.16).  Although
watchmen were sometimes hired privately by the wealthy to guard fields and
vineyards during harvest season (II Kings 17.9; II Chr. 20.24), the primary
references to watchmen in the Bible deal with the city watchmen, commonly
called "the watchman on the wall."  Nearly all cities that existed in both
the Conquest and Monarchy Periods were surrounded by large walls for
protection from the enemies of the inhabitants.  Archeological remains
reveal that some of these city walls were up to thirty feet wide and more
than fifty feet high.  Watchmen would sit or stand on top of these walls
or, in the more architecturally advanced cities, in watch towers built into
the walls.
        The city watchman had numerous responsibilities that were vital to
the well-being of the city and its inhabitants.  The watchman was expected
to be on the lookout for messengers from both friendly and hostile nearby
cities and kingdoms.  In some cities the watchmen reported any activity in
or around the city directly to the king or city officials  (I Sam. 14.16;
II Sam. 18.24).  Watchmen were also responsible for updating the people
regarding the city's safety by calling out the state of the city like a
sentry.  Also, these men were often given the honor of announcing victory
at the end of a battle.  But, the primary and most important function of
the watchman was to watch for enemy attack and alert the people by sounding
a trumpet (Eze. 33.1-6).  In addition, watchmen would often contribute in
the protection of the city by taking on the role of a soldier when the city
came under siege  (Song. 5.7; Jer. 51.12).  One can plainly see that the
watchman was an essential component of the city's existence.  It was,
therefore, of utmost importance that the position of the watchman be
occupied by a man who was trusted and respected by the inhabitants of the
city.
        In addition to being a literal occupation, the office of the
watchman was a symbolic designation God ascribed to the men He called to be
prophets to Judah and Israel.  There is a great deal of Biblical evidence
to support this claim.  Jeremiah 6.17 reads: "Also I set watchmen over you,
saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.  But they said, We will not
hearken."  The prophet Habakkuk wrote, "I will stand upon my watch, and set
me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what
I shall answer when I am reproved."  Similarly, God tells the prophet
Ezekiel, "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:
therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me"  (Eze.
3.17).  Just as the literal watchman warned the people of impending danger,
the prophets warned the Jews of the inevitable destruction that would
result from their evil ways.  The prophets fulfilled the role of the
watchmen not only by there messages of imminent doom, but also by their
announcements of ultimate victory over Israel's oppressors  (Isa. 21,6-12;
52.8-10; Jer. 31.6).  It is important to note that God Himself called the
prophets to their office and delegated to them the duties of the watchman
(Jer. 6.17; Eze. 3.17).  Furthermore, God gave these watchmen a tremendous
amount of responsibility and held them accountable for the souls of those
whom they failed to warn  (Eze. 3.18-21; 33.6-9).
        Like the Old Testament prophet, the Preacher of the Gospel, in
general, and specifically the office of the Pastor in this New Testament
era, parallels the literal position of the watchman in many ways.  Indeed,
it may accurately be stated that the watchman of the Old Testament typifies
the Pastor of the New Testament.  The Word of God would certainly endorse
this view.  Isaiah 52.7,8 reads:

 "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that
publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!  Thy watchmen
shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall sing: for they shall
see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion."

Not only does this portion of Scripture speak specifically of the
"watchmen," but it does so with a prophetic voice, looking to the future.
It should come as no surprise that the Apostle Paul specifically refers to
the above passage in Isaiah as a part of his famous discourse on the
necessity of the ministry found in the tenth chapter of Romans.  Paul
writes:

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they
hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach except they be sent? as
it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of
peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"  (Rom. 10.14,15).

        The writer of Hebrews further justifies the notion that the
watchman is a type of the New Testament Pastor.  Hebrews 13.17 tells us:

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they
watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."

It is undisputable that the above Scripture is a direct reference to the
office of the Pastor, for it is the Pastor who "rules" over the Church.
There is no other credible alternative for interpretation.  It is also
evident by the writer's choice of words in the phrase "for they watch for
your souls" that he is alluding to the literal position of the watchman.
The writer also emphasizes the issue of accountability, which is
inextricably linked to the position of the watchman as well as the office
of the Pastor  (see Eze. 3.18-21; 33.6-9).  For these reasons many scholars
of the Bible have concluded that Hebrews 13.17 does indeed relate to the
position of the watchman.  Of course this relationship is not as apparent
to the modern reader to whom the concept of the watchman is far removed.
But, to the original audience for whom the epistle was written, this would
have been a rather common association.
        As a watchman, one of the primary functions of the Pastor is to
warn the Church of the consequences for disobedience to the commandments of
God.  It is the Pastor's obligation to sound the alarm and protect the
Church against the onslaught of sin and worldliness.  If we heed the
warning of the watchman and do that which is right, then we shall surely
live.  But, if we ignore the sound of the trumpet and fail to submit
ourselves to the rule of the Pastor, then we shall die in our own iniquity
(Eze. 33.8,9).  Like the prophets before them, Pastors are often resented
for the unenviable task that is required of them  (Hos. 9.8; Gal. 4.16).
Some are quick to criticize their Pastor for decisions he makes or
convictions for which he stands.  But, we must continually remember that
God's watchman is positioned high upon the wall, and he sees things that
are not always apparent from the vantage point of those below.  It is not
the place of the Saint to refute or question the Pastor; for, the decisions
he makes and the instructions that he gives are not of his own
determination, but they are directives from God.
        In ancient times, the literal watchman declared the defeat of the
city's invaders.  The prophets, as watchmen, announced the downfall of
Israel's enemies and the restoration of God's people.  Likewise, God's
modern day watchmen also proclaim a message of victory and hope.
Certainly, another of the primary functions of the Pastor is to serve as a
constant reminder of the ultimate victory that was wrought at Calvary.
Regardless of the persecution and oppression the people of God endure, the
watchman may stand behind the pulpit and boldly profess absolute triumph
through the blood of Jesus Christ.
        As recorded in the Bible, God Himself called the prophets to their
office and designated them as the watchman over His people  (Jer. 6.17).
Still today, it is God who selects men according to His perfect will and
installs them in positions of leadership  (Acts 20.28; Eph. 4.11).  This
fact alone is sufficient to warrant a sincere respect and reverence for the
Pastorship. In order for the Church to prosper, we must comply with the
instructions of the man that God has appointed to watch over us.  We must
prepare to fight when the watchman sounds the alarm, engage in battle at
his command and rejoice upon his proclamation of victory won.  In so doing,
the Church is guaranteed continual success, and the power of God will abide
with His people forever.

**************************************
*                                    *
*        Kirk Van Ooteghem           *
*        University Libraries        *
*        Ball State University       *
*        00kmvanooteg@bsu.edu        *
*        vanoo@ecicnet.org           *
*                                    *
**************************************