Watchmen.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 1 min. read • grade level: 12

Soldiers generally acted as. Matt. 27:65, 66⁶⁵Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. ⁶⁶So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (Matthew 27:65‑66).

Citizens sometimes acted as. Neh. 7:3³And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. (Nehemiah 7:3).

WERE STATIONED

On watch towers. 2 Kin. 9:17. Isa. 21:5⁵Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. (Isaiah 21:5).

On the walls of cities. Isa. 62:6⁶I 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, (Isaiah 62:6).

In the streets of cities. Psa. 127:1¹<<A Song of degrees for Solomon.>> Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psalm 127:1).

Around the temple in Jerusalem on special occasions. 2 Kin. 11:6.

Paraded the streets at night to preserve order. SoS. 3:3. SoS. 5:7.

IN TIME OF DANGER

Increased in number. Jer. 51:12¹²Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the Lord hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. (Jeremiah 51:12).

Vigilant night and day. Neh. 4:9⁹Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. (Nehemiah 4:9). Isa. 21:8⁸And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: (Isaiah 21:8).

Reported the approach of all strangers. &c. 2 Sam. 18:24-27²⁴And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. ²⁵And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. ²⁶And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. ²⁷And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. (2 Samuel 18:24‑27). 2 Kin. 9:18-20. Isa. 21:6, 7, 9⁶For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. ⁷And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed: (Isaiah 21:6‑7)
⁹And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. (Isaiah 21:9).

Sounded an alarm at the approach of enemies. Ezek. 33:2, 3²Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: ³If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; (Ezekiel 33:2‑3).

Vigilance of, vain without God's protection. Psa. 127:1¹<<A Song of degrees for Solomon.>> Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psalm 127:1).

Were relieved by turns. Neh. 7:3³And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. (Nehemiah 7:3).

Danger of sleeping on their posts, referred to. Matt. 28:13, 14¹³Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. ¹⁴And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. (Matthew 28:13‑14).

Neglecting to give warning punished with death. Ezek. 33:6⁶But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. (Ezekiel 33:6).

Often interrogated by passengers. Isa. 21:11¹¹The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? (Isaiah 21:11).

ILLUSTRATIVE

Of ministers. Isa. 52:8⁸Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. (Isaiah 52:8). Isa. 62:6⁶I 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, (Isaiah 62:6). Ezek. 3:17¹⁷Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. (Ezekiel 3:17). Heb. 13:17¹⁷Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17).

(Blind,) of careless ministers. Isa. 56:10¹⁰His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. (Isaiah 56:10).

(Looking for the morning,) of anxious waiting for God. Psa. 130:5, 6⁵I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. ⁶My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. (Psalm 130:5‑6).

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