Pastor Tom Johnson, September 7, 2014
In the day of Ezekiel, a sentinel or watchman was
indispensable. During harvest season, someone would stand on high ground or a
temporary structure to look over the crops so that no one would rob or destroy
them. That was rural Israel. In urban Israel, a watchman was also
indispensable. All year around, the people needed watchmen. Larger cities had fortified
walls with walkways and towers on them. A watchman would scan the landscape day
and night—all year around. A watchman would look out on the horizon
for bad news—danger, threat, and the enemy. And when the watchman cried
out the danger, he did so in order to protect and prosper those under his
watchful eye. A watchman would also look out for good news—the king’s
return, soldiers returning from battle, and a messenger with glad tidings. The
watchman had the privilege of announcing a message that would give cause for
celebration! Watchmen were the surveillance
satellites of the ancient world—the radar scanners scanning hills, seas, and
skies. Some watchmen were called to protect a particular farmer’s
crop. Some watchmen were called to a particular city such as Jerusalem. Ezekiel is called to be “a watchman for the house of Israel”—a whole nation! No tower is high enough to give him a view of the whole nation! Even from a window in the international space station a watchman cannot see the necessary detail. And so it is for the watchmen of Christ’s Church—even for us who serve the church as pastors, teachers, DCEs, officers, or Sunday school teachers. It is an impossible task. There is no lofty tower to view the lives of all of God’s people. There is no extra sensory perception to read the human heart. There is no way for the watchman to see the threat of danger lurking behind every shadow. There is no way to anticipate extraordinarily good news. The human eye cannot gather the information needed for the task. Like all servants of God, the watchman is unworthy. No one is capable of doing it alone. The good news is that God does not expect for Ezekiel or any watchman to see all that needs to be seen. He doesn’t even expect Ezekiel to use his eyes at all. God is calling him to use his ears.
The landscape this watchman looks over is not the hills, valleys, plains, and seas of Israel but the landscape of the Word. We scan the Scriptures, listen and then speak—not our opinion but God’s changeless Word. We are not free agents. We are not opinion columnists. We speak what we hear in the Word of God. When we hear this Word, we hear and recognize the voice of our Good Shepherd. He is the true Watchman we assist him “with the help of God” and “by the grace of God” as we say in our baptismal vows, confirmation vows, and the vows of church officers and ordination. God’s ultimate appeal for us is to live—to turn back—to get off a path of danger and destruction—and to enjoy the journey of life and the way of peace. At the very core of the watchman—deep in his heart is a yearning to protect his people. This is good news! God sends his word to promote life, health, and peace. When God warns of danger, it is not to beat us down, belittle us, or cramp our style. When God warns, he does so to preserve and protect our lives.
As Psalm 127 puts it: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Here is an encouraging thing—the Lord builds the house—the Lord watches over the city! It is God who can see all the activities of humankind—even under the cover of darkness. It is God who can hear what is whispered in the corners. It is God who can read the thoughts in every human heart. He watches—not to keep a record of wrongs—but watches over us as our Advocate, Savior, and Friend. “He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” He takes pleasure, rather, in those who escape the dangers of the devil, the world, death, and even our own tendency to stray away from his watchful care. He takes pleasure in our having peace, comfort, and the assurance of grace.
As the great Watchman—our heavenly Father—looks over the landscape of humanity, he sees our many and deep troubles. He sees the wolves threatening us, his sheep. But he does not just watch over us—he saves and sustains us. He sent us his Son, Jesus. And like a good watchman, Jesus was lifted up high—high on a hill right outside of Jerusalem—the hill’s name is Golgotha, Calvary, the place of the skull. And there up high upon the cross, he not only sees and hears the sinfulness of the world, he carries the full weight and burden of it. He lays his life down to bring us forgiveness, life, and salvation. He ascended to the Father. And there from his heavenly throne, he watches over us, prayerfully intercedes for us, sends his holy angels, calls and equips us to serve one another, and promises to be with us for the length of our journey: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
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