17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, “I see a company.” And Joram said, “Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’ ” 18 So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, “Thus says the king, ‘Is it peace?’ ” And Jehu said, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” And the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” 19 Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, “Thus the king has said, ‘Is it peace?’ ” And Jehu answered, “What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me.” 20 Again the watchman reported, “He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.” ~ 2 Kings 9:17–20
The Hebrew word (ṣā·p̄ā(h)), translated watchman, means:
keep watch, be a lookout,
i.e., intently watch a situation using primarily the eye-gate, but possibly also using other senses, implying a future hope or expectation.
Jesus told us to watch and pray. By this, He made the Christians watchmen on the wall, so to speak. We are to announce good, and we are to announce bad. We are to announce friends, and we are to announce enemies. We are to announce peace, and we are to announce war.
It is our responsibility to protect the flock from potential dangers and warn of surprise attacks from the enemy. Therefore, it is our job to keep watch and to warn the body of Christ of impending dangers and threats.
We are to watch for approaching friends and let our fellow Christians know they are friends. We are likewise to watch for approaching enemies and sound the alarm that an enemy is approaching.
Not only this, but it is the watchman’s responsibility to warn the people on behalf of God when they are straying or falling away from His impending judgment. We are to warn them to turn from their wicked or their compromising ways and return to God.
It is a serious and crucial responsibility that we have and one we should not take lightly. Therefore, blow the trumpet and sound the alarm; danger and enemies disguised as friends are all around us. Warn the people of God, watchmen.
Father, give Your watchmen wisdom and understanding to recognize enemies from friends, danger from peace, and the prudence to act accordingly. Grant us boldness and confidence to warn, advise, and caution the body of Christ. Bless Your people LORD and watch over them as they climb the mountains and cross the valleys. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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