God Himself Watches Over Jerusalem
“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God…..On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.” Isaiah 62:1-6
This scripture is beautiful reminder of how God cares for Jerusalem. He watches over her and He will not be silent concerning her. He speaks of the watchmen on the walls that He sets over her as a city. Who are these watchmen and what do they do?
The Role Of The Watchmen
In biblical times both in Israel and also neighboring nations, high stone walls surround the cities. All of the dwelling places of the inhabitants of that city live inside those protective walls. These walls separate them from the danger of invasion from other nations. Appointed watchman take shifts looking out for any dangers even through the night. The word watchmen in Hebrew here in Isaiah 62:6 means to keep guard, to watch, to protect and to wait for. It is the role of that watchman to warn the people by sounding the trumpet at the first sight of invaders in attempts to apprehend them before it is too late. This was a serious duty and truly a significant one to the Lord as we see in this scripture.
“But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.” Ezekiel 33:6
A Watchman On The Wall For Israel
As believers in Jesus we are called to watch and to pray. Even as the end drew near for Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, He tells His disciples to stay awake and pray that they may not enter into temptation. Additionally, shortly before that He gives the parable of the ten virgins – five wise and five foolish. Those that were wise were that way because their lamps were full. They were wakeful, prepared and ready at a moments notice to meet the bridegroom. They were watchful and on the lookout for him.
We gather from the scriptures and specifically from Isaiah 62 that God cares deeply for His people, Israel. We also know that God does not give up on His covenants and therefore has not given up on Israel. In the final portion of Isaiah 62:6, those that remember the Lord, should take no rest. They should give God no rest until Jerusalem is a praise in all the earth. If you read the news at all you know that Jerusalem has not yet become “a praise in all the earth.”
The Lord is looking for those who be will watchmen on behalf of Israel. Those that will “keep guard, watch, and protect” as well as cry out for her salvation. As prayer warriors, let us spiritually look out for approaching dangers and sound the alarm to pray. Watchmen are alert and vigilant in prayer ready to guard what is precious to the Lord. What an amazing and sobering opportunity we get to partner with the God of the universe in watching over Israel!! Now more than ever Israel needs our prayers for physical safety and a spiritual awakening so that she can be “A Praise In All The Earth”.
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