Watchmen on the Walls

The image Leigh has so beautifully painted relates to a verse in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 62:6 found in the Hebrew Bible "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest".

The painting transports us back to Biblical times in the days of Isaiah and to the city of Jerusalem where the city walls represented protection, security and shelter for God's people. The walls represented not only the strength of the people within the city, but were a witness to the strength of the God they served.

It was customary to post watchmen around the walls to "keep watch" for the arrival of messengers bringing news and enemy activity. In Hebrew, the verb to "keep watch" means "to lean forward", denoting the posture of alertness the watchmen maintained day and night during their shifts. In order to remain vigilant the watchmen communicated to one another every few minutes, especially in times of approaching danger.

God as Guardian of Israel set watchmen around the walls of Jerusalem. These watchmen were prophets whom the LORD appointed to "never be silent" in prayer until the LORD "establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise of the earth". (Isaiah 62:6,6) Day and night, the watchmen's task was to "keep putting to God in remembrance" that He takes no rest from carrying out His purposes and promises in relation to Jerusalem. What God does for Jerusalem, He will do for the nations.

The prophet Isaiah looked to the time when Jerusalem will be restored to a "City of Truth" (Isaiah 1:26, Zech 8:3) and God's Kingdom will be established on earth. "Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plough shares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more." (Isaiah 2:3-5) Isaiah foresaw when Messiah would return and establish His peace within the walls of Jerusalem. As the Word of the LORD goes forth from Jerusalem, the nations will come to a knowledge of the LORD. (Isaiah 62:11)

The LORD is the Watchman, keeping watch, keeping guard. Just as He does not rest, we are exhorted to give ourselves "no rest" in prayer. (Isaiah 62:6) We are instructed not to leave God alone concerning the future of Jerusalem, but "to lean forward", to be poised to co-operate with God through prayer in the fulfilling of His purposes to call a city to life, a people to life. "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch". (Isaiah 62:1)

In spite of circumstances, Isaiah possessed hope for the future. God revealed to him the promise of the year of the LORD'S favour (Isaiah 61:1), the Messianic servant who would redeem His people from their sins and who would return in glory. (Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 53).

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!". Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD will lay bare His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God". (Isaiah 52:7-10).