“For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.” – Isaiah 21:6
The watcher and the wall look very different in the 20th century. These days security systems, cameras, satellites, and emergency personal watch over our kingdoms. Gone are the days when a man will stand atop a castle wall looking out all through the night, ever watchful for danger and destruction looming. Though watcher and the wall look very different, the watchmen over our souls have remained the same, and will remain throughout the ages.
In Isaiah’s day, kingdoms of old would set watchmen on the wall to declare what they saw. They would look out continually and cry out if danger was approaching. The value of the watchman was both his boldness and attentiveness. Obviously, they did not have the use of electronics or automation, and no king would want his kingdom to be caught by surprise. So, they set someone high on the wall to keep watch over the kingdom and the surrounding land. If any threat drew near, they were to declare it, and by declaring, they would affirm danger was coming. In a sense, every man and woman on earth has a “kingdom”. That is not to say that one person is more important than the other, but rather that God has given us the gift of choice and free will. We decide what to do with our time here on earth, and in that borrowed time we are either building our kingdom or His. Our kingdom is as much ours as God grants to us, so perhaps we are more stewards than kings, but nevertheless, God has set a watchman. He has not left our souls in jeopardy nor did he give his prized creation over to the enemy without providing adequate protection. God does all things well and he has set a watchman, at great cost to himself. He has sent his only Son Jesus Christ to bleed and die on a cross, to be raised again on the third day. Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave, and he stands at the right hand of the Father making intercession for you and me on His behalf, through the person of the Holy Ghost. That is a real long sentence to basically say: if you have the Holy Ghost within, you need not worry about what is without. We are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” As long as you listen to the warning and the cry of the Holy Ghost, and yield to his direction, he will keep you from dangers seen and unseen (that is to say, though you experience danger your soul is never in danger). There are many wonderful attributes to the Holy Ghost and the work he performs within a man or women’s life, and the way he watches over our soul is certainly one of them. When you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, you have the power of God within. Do you think the power of God can keep you? Is it more powerful than the power of the devil? There is no enemy that is stronger or greater than God. You do not have to fight alone, there is a power far greater than you or me that can dwell within and keep the kingdom; but we have to yield to it, listen to it, and leave off anything that hinders our hearing the blessed Holy Ghost’s watchful cry.
God will not only save you from sin, but he will keep you from sin. He will not only save you from danger, but he will keep you from danger. He will not only save you from destruction, but he will keep you from destruction. The Holy Ghost will act as a watchman over your soul, lovingly and firmly leading/warning you of dangers. Guiding you away from the snare of the enemy and at times, abruptly showing you the way not to go. If you commit to Him, he will commit to you; and as you look to Jesus, Jesus will look out for you.
