Of what use is a watchman who sees danger and sounds no alarm?
"And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.... and he that departeth from evil makes himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment." Isa.59:14-15
"Judgment" in this verse is the Hebrew word "mishpat" and means simply "Law and order" or "justice". The word "justice" means "rightness" and the word "equity" is plain "fairness". Isaiah, God's watchman on God's wall of protection, is describing a civilized society which has lost its spiritual compass and gone astray from its Creator God to lawlessness, unrighteousness, and plain unfairness. Their spiritual and political leaders had ceased to hold up the standards of God's word, truth and righteousness and their government began to violate the boundaries of truth and justice which error spread to the general population, their schools and their public and private institutions. So that their nation and people were becoming uncivilized, unspiritual, unjust, lawless and unfair. When this kind of spiritual or political deterioration and corruption begins, it is hard to stop until it slams into the neutralizing bottom ... of that pit. This is why preachers and Christians, though imperfect, must stand up and speak out against these revisionary changes at first notice and continue to do so loud and clear until a revival of truth is ignited .... beginning in the hearts of God's people. This has been the calling of God's preachers, God's watchmen, from the beginning.... God called no supermen or perfect watchmen to walk His walls, but as faulty as they might be, they are responsible to watch for the safety and welfare of the people against all invasion, intrusion and violation of the people.
Moses spoke up for truth, justice and rightness ..."Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen." Deut.27:19 (though Moses was imperfect himself, he had God's calling as a watchman)
David spoke up for God's word, truth and right ..."The God of Israel ... spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." 2 Sam.23:3 (Yet David himself was imperfect, he was called of God, as a ruler, to be just)
King Solomon knew the ruin of evil and the power of rightness ...
"It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness." Prov.16:12 (Yet Solomon himself, a king, was not without fault... but he was God's watchman)
Isaiah did not hesitate to rebuke kings, Judges and Politicians ..."Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed." Isa.10:1 (though Isaiah himself was was not a perfect man, he was God's watchman)
Ezekiel pointed these words in the face of the politicians ..."Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD."
Ezek.45:9 ("exactions are the act of forcefully extracting money from someone") Neither was Ezekiel without fault but he was a "watchman".
John the Baptist told King Herod his sinful taking of his sister-in-law to his bed was illegal and wicked and John lost his head for saying it.
"John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her." Matt.14:4 (Though John was not without fault, he was God's watchman and delivered God's message ... even to the King)
It is the responsibility of kings and other rulers to defend and administer justice, truth, and law and order equally and fairly. It is also the responsibility of preachers to be the watchmen on the wall and warn the people, kings, judges and politicians of the dangers of doing otherwise and pointing the way of truth, justice and God's word. "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth." Psm.2:10 (Listen to God's people, God's preachers, God's watchmen on the national walls. Those walls are there for the people's protection. Protect the people but do not abuse them or overburden them)
Don't expect me to do less than these watchmen on the wall. I have a wall to walk and watch for injustice or invasion of the people's rights and sound the alarm when God's protective wall is breached. Though I too am far from perfect .... I am a watchman on the wall God assigned me. The first thing I was taught in Marine boot-camp was the General Orders of a sentry on guard duty. The first of those General Orders was "I will walk my post in a military manner keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing." It is the sentry's sworn duty to protect, day or night, those within his area of responsibility and to sound the alarm if danger approaches.
"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence." Isa.62:6.
