12/11/2021
When your family is facing impending danger who is it that sounds the alarm? Every family seems to have someone who stands watch, and serves as our watchman. This is more than true in the Bible as both spiritual and physical warnings are issued. The two big questions are these… does the watchman honor his calling by sounding the alarm, and, do we pay attention once that the warning has been issued? If we are reluctant to sound the alarm, or upon hearing, we don’t react to the trumpets sounding in the night, then we are truly lost.
“And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
Matthew 2:12 ESV
Last night there was a bout of very severe weather here in Tennessee. We experienced a line of incredibly fast moving storms with multiple tornado warnings, and high wind. In my family, I am the watchman, and when a storm is imminent I sound the warning by contacting my children and other family members; then I take my wife and retreat to a safe place in my house… praying all the while for the safety of my entire family. So it is in scripture, there are three parts to any warning… the designated watchman must perform his duty by delivering the alarm, those receiving the warning must obey it, and we are to pray for protection.
““Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.”
Ezekiel 3:17 ESV
I can’t imagine seeing a life threatening storm approaching one of my children’s homes and not warning them. If their house were destroyed, and they were injured, or killed, I would not be able to live with myself… their blood would be on my hands. But, once I have contacted them and sounded the alarm, then they must do their part, and heed the warning, act on it, and pray for the Lord’s protection. I would be heartbroken if they ignored my warning and were hurt, or worse, but I would have done what I could, and not bear personal responsibility for what happened.
“If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”
Ezekiel 3:18-19 ESV
It is exceedingly rare that danger comes without some degree of foreknowledge. Yesterday my sister-in-law contacted me and reminded me that storms had been forecast for the late hours of the night. I assured her that I would be watching and would call if the storms posed a danger. She knew I was the watchman, and depended on me as such. In the Bible we see advanced warnings, and watchmen too.
“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.””
Luke 21:28 ESV
““For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7 ESV
After this it is up to the watchman to stand guard and sound the alarm, and it is up to the others to obey, and pray. Who is your family watchman? Who is your spiritual watchman? And… are you obeying their warnings in action, and prayer?
So, in the wee hours of the morning today I sounded the alarm, my family went to their safe places, prayers were offered, and after the storm had passed, all were safe… praised be to God.
“But you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive today.”
Deuteronomy 4:4 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the prophets of old who have told us of things yet to come, and thank you for the watchmen that you have placed on the wall to warn us, and prepare us, for their imminent arrival. Open our eyes, and ears to the sound of the trumpet, and the shofar’s alarm. Help us to be diligent, and to act immediately at hearing the sound of your warnings, and of the coming of Christ to claim us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who looks after us, and establishes watchmen to man the walks that surround us. Merciful are you who sharpens our hearing and gives us the eyes of eagles. Your grace abounds and makes us like the deer who hears the snorts of danger, and leaps to safety from the lion. Praised be your name for every warning we receive from you, and each instruction regarding how we should act to insure our safety, and righteousness. Hear our prayers as we ask for your protection Father, and seal us in Christ where we will be safe forevermore.
“But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.””
Ezekiel 3:21 ESV
Rich Forbes