My children were begging to go down to the little park by our house. They loved to swing, slide, and spin on the merry-go-round. So after dinner, we walked down to the playground. After a little while of them playing on their own, they asked me to join in on a game of hide-in-seek (and of course I said, “Yes!”).
The kids were all in the their hiding places and I was on the hunt when I noticed a reflection of light on the ground. As I crouched down to see what it was, I realized it was a jagged piece of glass. I then begin to notice more glass scattered nearby. I picked up several pieces and threw them away, disgusted that someone would leave sharp glass where children were playing. We went back to our game, when I saw another reflection in a different part of the playground. More broken glass! I stopped, picked it up, and threw it away. This happened several more times as I found more fragments of glass scattered across the park.
As I walked home with the kids, I thought how good it was that someone found those bits of glass before someone was hurt. A child could have easily cut their leg or foot causing a serious injury. Luckily, after I saw the first piece, I was intently searching out other pieces in order to keep the playground safe.
The scripture describes those who search out danger and alert others. It calls them “watchmen.” The duty of the watchmen was to stand atop the walls of the city and focus on the horizon. If danger were to come, they alerted the citizens so that they could prepare themselves.
The prophet Ezekiel writes about the watchman and his role: “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people…” (Ezekiel 33:2-3). If the watchman warns the people, yet they do not prepare themselves, then they are held responsible for the outcome. However, if the watchman does not warn the people about the coming danger, then he is guilty of their deaths (Ezekiel 33:4-6).
These scriptures are not just talking about men sitting on the city walls, it is speaking of the people of God becoming alert to the dangers erupting in our society. It is the prophets of God calling out to warn the citizens of the land of the threats against our children, our marriages, our families, and our churches. God tells Ezekiel, “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me” (Ezekiel 33:7). As our eyes are fixed on the horizon and our ears are tuned in to the voice of God, we must warn the people.
Just like the kids on the playground, we can keep playing not knowing danger is right at our feet. But someone must arise and warn others of the hidden peril. The Bible tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Our prayer must be, “Lord, awaken my heart. Help me to be alert and aware of the times at hand. Speak to my heart and give me the boldness to deliver the warnings so that others may be rescued.”
Wake up, watchmen!