The Watchman's Prayer
Pray I never sleep nor leave my post.
“For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees. When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.” Then he who saw cried out: “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights."
Isaiah 21:6-8
Charles H. Sprugoen wrote a Watchman's prayer entitled, Know Your Enemies…
"Watchman, what time of the night?" Isaiah 21:11
“What enemies are around? Errors abound, and new ones appear every hour: Against what heresy am I to be on my guard? Sins creep from their lurking places when the darkness reigns; I need to climb the watchtower and give myself to prayer. Our heavenly Protector anticipated all the attacks that are about to be made upon us, and when the evil designed for us is still in the desire of Satan, He prays for us that our faith will not fail when we are sifted as wheat. Continue then, gracious Watchman, to warn us of our foes, and for Zion’s sake do not remain silent.
“Watchman, what time of the night?” What weather is coming for the Church? Are the clouds rolling in, or is it all clear and fair overhead? We must care for the Church of God with sincere and thoughtful love; and now that empty religion and irreligion both threaten, let us observe the signs of the times and prepare for conflict.
“Watchman, what time of the night?” What stars are visible? What precious promises are relevant to our circumstances? You sound the alarm and also give us the consolation. Christ, like the North Star, is always fixed in His place, and all the stars are secure in the right hand of their Lord." (1)
Lord, help us understand our times, our culture, and our civilizational moment - remembering that Christ is Lord over all.
Our times
"Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…" 1 Chronicles 12:32
Carl Trueman said, “Understanding the times is a precondition to responding appropriately to the times.”
Our culture
"Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols... “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you." Acts 17:16, 22b-23
The Apostle Paul observed his cultural context in order to communicate truth.
Our civilizational moment
"Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you." Jeremiah 26:12-13
In his work Democracy in America. Alexis de Tocqueville said, “Society is endangered not by the great profligacy of a few, but by the laxity of morals amongst all... everybody feels the evil, but no one has courage or energy enough to seek the cure.”
Christ is Lord over ALL
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colossians 1:15-17
Abraham Kuyper stated, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
We cannot be depended upon but Christ is dependable. He is our help and overwatch. We dare not engage before praying. We are to serve as Watchman. I pray we never sleep or leave our posts!
Amen and Amen!
1. Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003