Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

Consider what Isaiah says about Israel’s leaders: “Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain” (Is 56:10-11).

This very morning, my BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) homework was on these exact verses. I thought it interesting how a good watchdog not only warns the flock of intruders but at the same time, its loud bark often scares them away!

Annette Nestor

I think my article more or less answers your question. But a watchman would obviously need to have God’s heartbeat and perspective on matters. He would need to have courage to fearlessly proclaim what God is telling him. He would need to be alert and vigilant, as he warns of internal and external dangers. He would need to be willing to be unpopular, and face the risk of opposition and rejection.

In that sense, a watchman is much like a prophet, and needs the attributes or characteristics of a prophet.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

I am a senior in high school and i am preparing to speak a message in my youth group on “equipping the watchmen”. I am looking to cover, or speak about, 3 or 4 main attributes of a watchman. What would you say are some characteristics of a watchman that i should cover???

I am speaking to the youth group in a couple of days so a fast response would be much appreciated.

thanks.
Aaron Mann

As aside, Australian coins from 1953-4 (the first two years of the current Queen’s reign) omitted F.D. (Fidei Defensor) from the legend. This was rectified in 1955, due to pressure from our ‘watchmen’. But the change to decimal currency in 1966 abolished Latin legends, and the phrase was removed from the Queen’s title in Australia during the Whitlam government’s cultural revolution.

Michael Watts

Yes women as well. Your list is fine, except I might add that we need to be students of the surrounding culture as well. Just as we need to exegete Scripture, we also need to exegete the culture we live in. But yes, it all ties in with good theology and a solid biblical worldview.

The old saying about bankers is relevant here. Those who work in banks and other areas involving money can easily spot counterfeit bank notes because they know the real thing so well. We should be able to easily identify threats to the faith if we have a firm understanding of God’s word, and take the importance of sound doctrine seriously.

And yes I hope to get this message out to wider circles, thanks.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

Thank you for this excellent call to the leaders of our churches (and others) to be watchmen (Did you also mean to include women?).

Your ministry on this website is doing just that.

What do you think could be included in the ministry of equipping God’s people to be watchmen/women? My thoughts would be a solid basis in biblical theology/studies, apologetics and worldview.

I hope that you develop this message into a larger one for proclamation in the churches to which you are invited and to your home church.

Spencer Gear, Hervey Bay