After the crash of TWA flight 800 and the bombing of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, both of which were thought at the time to possibly be connected to international terrorists, President Clinton assigned Vice President Al Gore to head a commission on air safety to counter the possible terrorist threat. With his usual technical thoroughness but cerebral dullness, Gore conducted a wide-ranging review of air-safety measures and set up a system to predict who would hijack a passenger airplane.
The system, called CAPPS (Civil Aviation Passenger Protection System) was based on an algorithm that evaluated risk factors to spot hijackers. And CAPPS worked brilliantly on 9/11 - picking out 11 of the 19 hijackers for special scrutiny as possible terrorists.
Gore's work was entirely based on the belief that nobody would commit suicide while hijacking a plane. So the only purpose of CAPPS was to assure that these passengers boarded the airplane with their checked baggage - since the feds assumed that the checked bags couldn't have a bomb in it if the terrorist was on the plane himself. Had those in power taken the warning seriously and acted accordingly thousands of lives would have been spared and billions of dollars would have been saved.
When a person answerers the call of God in their lives they place themselves and their families in spiritual danger. This is a hazard that cannot be avoided. This is why we should always pray for those who place their lives on the front line.
The watchman today is not a common term used within the church. However, the watchman and the ministry of a watchman need to function in the life of every minister of Jesus Christ. It needs to function in the life of every father and mother husband and wife and believer.
A watchman was usually a male but there were exception. A watchman was usually a solider but there were exceptions here also. A watchman was a person who was charged with the responsibility of guarding a person, place, or thing. They were to be fearless individuals of integrity, honesty, and faithfulness. They were to be people who were loyal to discharge their duties even in the face of death. So a watchman was a literal person with literal duties.
Matthew 27:62-66 62Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. These soldiers were charged with the responsibility of guarding the tomb of Jesus to prevent his disciples from removing his body.Matthew 28:2-4 2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
The keepers here were the watchman: the soldiers.
Matthew 28:11-14 11Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
Here we see two points.
1. Those who usually stood as a watchmen were soldiers2. If they failed (or slept) in their watch their life would be required of them.
Nehemiah 7:1-3 1Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. 3And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.
Here we see that sometimes a citizen acted as a watchman, and they were relieved by turns.
Isaiah 21:5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
Sometimes they were stationed in a watchtower.
Isaiah 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence.
Sometimes they were stationed on the walls of the cities.
Song of Solomon 5:7 The watchmen that went about the city found me …
Sometimes they patrolled the city streets.
2 Kings 11:6-7 6And a third part [shall be] at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down. 7And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.
Sometimes they watched around the temple in Jerusalem on special occasions.
Jeremiah 51:12 Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
Sometimes it was necessary to increase the watch. (Be on red alert)
Isaiah 21:8 And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
A watchman is vigilant day and night.
Isaiah 21:6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
A watchman is honest and unbiased in what he sees. (He calls it like he sees it)
Isaiah 21:7 And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:
A watchman reports the approach of all strangers.
Psalm 127:1 ...Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
A watchman needs God's protection and guidance.
Ezekiel 33:2-3 2Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people.
A watchman sounds the alarm at the approach of an enemy.
Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
If a watchman neglected to give warning he was punished with death.
Isaiah 21:11 The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
A watchman is questioned by people he doesn't know.
2 Samuel 18:25 And the watchman cried, and told the king …
A watchman reports to his leadership.
Isaiah 52:8 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.
A watchman also brings news of rejoicing. They see things before others.
In our next issue we will begin to look at the spiritual watchman of God's Word.
To be continued …ÿ
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.