On God as the Ultimate Watchman
On God as the Ultimate Watchman.
“Unless the Lord Yahweh watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” (Ps. 127:1).
The Watchman. In the biblical era when there were walled cities, the citizens would always make sure there was a watchtower built onto the wall, at which would be posted a watchman. This person would be responsible to be on the lookout for the approach of a friend, enemy or stranger to the city. This watchman would need to listen to the instructions of the ruler of the city to distinguish between those three possibilities. And then if there was any threat or danger that approached the city, the watchman would blow a trumpet or sound an alarm. The watchman would also be on the lookout for the approach of good news as well, and would shout out to the citizens they could welcome that was coming their way, including the announcement of the new day at each sunrise.
The Lookout. The Hebrew word for watchman was “mishmereth,” which means one who looks out in order to protect, to guard, to keep safe. The good watchman needed to have particular abilities: the mental discipline to be constantly alert, attentive and focused; to be fearless, calm and composed; to be shrewd and not easily fooled; to have acute hearing and eyesight; to be extremely observant and aware of surroundings; to be ready for anything, expectant, poised to act when called upon; to be someone who is able to wait patiently; to be able to discern the good from the bad, the welcome from the welcome.
The Divine Watchman. The writers of Scripture repeat this theme frequently… God keeps watch over the whole world of mankind, over the righteous and the unrighteous, the good and the bad (Prov. 15:3). Our Creator is not one who sits passively on His throne as a distant or uninterested observer of His creation. God’s eyes are observant like any good watchman, only He is watching over the whole universe and every person on earth (Jer. 32:19).
Always Awake. His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth (2 Chron. 16:9), acutely aware of every deed, every step. God’s ears are attentive to prayers (1 Peter 3:12), to the cries of the brokenhearted. Creator God keeps watch over each of us, from the moment we are conceived (Ps. 139:16) to our dying breath. God is the perfect watchman who neither slumbers nor sleeps (Ps. 121:3), always looking out over His creation. “Not a creature exists that is concealed from God’s sight, nothing is hidden. Everything is naked, uncovered, stretched fully open to the eyes of the One to whom we must give account of ourselves.” (Hebrews 4:13). Our God is the best kind of watchman, a Good Shepherd who is able to keep His eye on everything and everybody as He remains the Guardian of our souls and of nature.
The Watchful Tree. But God also keeps a careful eye on His Word. Remember the biblical history of almonds. What is the significance of the miracle of Aaron’s branch developing ripe almonds (Numbers 17:8), as opposed to figs, or pomegranates or dates? Why almonds? In answer to that question, there’s a good chance the Lord was offering a visual aid, reminding everyone of the divinely inspired lampstand in the Holy Place. Yahweh had given strict instructions that the golden lampstand in the Tabernacle was to be shaped in the form of an almond tree, with its branches, blossoms and almonds all engraved in the gold. (Ex. 25). It turns out that the Hebrew root word for “almond” was “watching.” Those two words are virtually identical in Hebrew, and the Lord used the almond tree to let the people know that He would be observant over His Chosen people, alert to His Word that it be performed as He intends it to be. Jeremiah said it best, “Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Jeremiah, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘I see a branch of an almond tree.’ Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am always watching to see that my Word is fulfilled, ready to perform my Word.‘” (Jer. 1:11-12). In other words, almonds are a sign from God that He is always watching to make His word fruitful, to bring them through all the stages of growth, to bring forth fruit, just like Aaron’s fruitful rod in the Holy Place. It was no accident that Aaron’s rod blossomed as the branch of an almond tree. It was not random. It was all God’s design. No wonder that the Hebrew name for the almond tree was the “Watchful Tree.” Indeed, God is the watchguard of Israel, and His Word will be accomplished as He said.