Sermon Tone Analysis

The year is 689 BC and the world is in turmoil.

The Babylonian Empire is under attack by the Assyrian Empire.

All of the nations in that area hoped against hope that Babylon would be able to defeat the Assyrian aggressors to their north.

However, it was not to be! Babylon fell to the Assyrians and everyone knew they would not be stopped until the entire region was under their domination.

Against this backdrop of war and the certainty of attack upon the nation of Israel, God commands the prophet Isaiah to assume the role of a watchman.

Isaiah is to look to the prophetic future and tell the people what he sees approaching.

This is just what Isaiah does in out text.

This message might have been given nearly 2,700 years ago, but it is as timely as today’s headlines.

War rages in our world today.

People are losing their lives by the thousands to terrorist attacks, freak natural disasters and the horrors of war.

On another level, a tsunami of sin in our world is rising.

Old convictions and standards are being swept away right before our very eyes.

Behavior that was once considered immoral is now openly flaunted and widely accepted.

The winds of change are blowing all around us and fearful things are just over the horizon.

Today, just as there was in Isaiah’s day, there is a need for the people of God to assume the role of watchman.

There is a need for us to take our stand, look at that which is approaching and open our mouths and sound the warning.

I would like to take this passage and preach on the theme: Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.

As I read this passage, I understand that we are living in dangerous days.

We are living in days when the enemies of the Lord and the Enemy of our soul—Satan himself—would love nothing more than to overrun or lives and our churches.

The enemy’s desire is to see our ministries, our families and our churches dashed upon the rocks of failure.

If we are to avoid that end, then we need to consider the work of the ancient watchman and understand the truth that his ministry is needed as much today as it ever was.

Let me share three facts that this passage gives us concerning the watchman.

!

I. THE WATCHMAN AND HIS MISSION

* /“This is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.”/

(Isaiah 21:6, NIV)

#. in ancient times, those who lived in walled cities were considered blessed individuals

#. by being inside a city with walls, they had 2 forms of protection

#. 1st, was the wall itself

#. it stood as a barrier between the citizens and their enemies

#. it stood as a barrier between that which was acceptable and that which was not

#. the wall was a formidable barrier to trouble

* ILLUS.

In 2 Chronicles we have the story of King Asa of Judah.

Asa was a good king and turned the hearts of Israel back to the worship of the Lord.

As a result God prospered his reign with peace and prosperity.

During that time he set about securing his county by embarking upon a building-boom.

* /“He [Asa] built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest.

He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace.

And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars.

The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God.

We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.”

So they built and prospered.”/

(2 Chronicles 14:6–7, ESV)

#. walled cities were the ‘gated communities’ of their day—they provided a safe place to live

#.

2nd, was the watchman who patrolled the walls

#. he is mentioned in our text and he was essential to the proper function of the wall

#. he stood upon that wall and kept watch over the surrounding countryside

#. when invading armies or other dangers came into his view, he sounded the warning and those inside the wall knew to prepare

#. both the watchman and the wall were essential to the survival of the city itself

* ILLUS.

For much of the world’s history, sentinels would walk the ramparts of their city.

On most days, their cry was, “All is well.”

But in perilous days they cry might be “To arms!”

#. without the watchman, those inside the wall were blind and without the wall, the watchman would have been unnecessary

#. verse 6 points out the two-fold duty of the ancient watchman

!! A. HE WAS TO WATCH

#. the most important duty of the watchman was for him to be a lookout!

#. he was to stand in the towers or upon the wall and his eyes were to scan the countryside for any signs of trouble

#. from his high and lofty perch, he could see the glistening of armor, sword and spear; he could see the banners of war as they waved; and he could see the clouds of dust raised by the drumming of thousands of feet upon the earth

#. he was to be in his place, with his eyes open

#. he was to watch!

!! B. HE WAS TO WARN

#. whether he saw anything approaching or not, he was to give his report to the people within the walls when they asked him of conditions outside

#. when trouble arose in the distance, he was to lift up his voice and sound the warning so that the people within the walls could prepare themselves and so that those who lived outside the city could run in and find refuge

#. this same thought is seen in Isa.

58:1, where the prophet Isaiah is told to /“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”/

!! C. WE NEED WATCHMEN TODAY WHO WILL WATCH AND WARN

#. if there was ever a time when watchmen were needed around the church, the home, the family, the schoolhouse and the community, it’s today

#. we need people of discernment who know the Word of God

#. we desperately need people who know the enemy and who are keeping an eye on him and what he is doing

* /“Be sober-minded; be watchful.

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”/

(1 Peter 5:8, ESV)

#. we need people who will watch and warn others of what they see coming

#.

whether we see it or not, every area of life I mentioned a moment ago is under attack!

#. the enemy is doing everything he can to invade the church and lead us down the wrong path

#. he wants to countermine our theology and challenge our convictions

#. he wants to dilute our worship, and denigrate our Bible

#. he wants to sully our reputations and stifle our witness

#. we need watchman who will see that and sound the message!

#. the enemy is doing everything he can to destroy the home and marriage and family

#.

children have forgotten the meaning of submission and obedience

#. husbands and wives have no concept of faithfulness, and fidelity and regularly renege on /“unto death do us part”/

#. parents have forgotten how to apply the board of education to the seat of learning, and we are raising a generation of rebels who know nothing about submission to authority

#. we need watchman who will see that and sound the message!

#. the enemy is doing everything he can to subvert the schoolhouse!

#.

His Book is off limits and children are forbidden to have organized prayer

* ILLUS.

Many schools today are teaching “Values Curriculum”.

For the first 150 years of our nation’s history we had values curriculum—it was called the bible!

#. in many class rooms—especially the college class room—they are taught that God is a myth from our repressed past

#.

they are told that man evolved from a single amoeba that formed countless ages ago in a puddle of primordial soup

#. if God can be marginalized and children taught that He does not exist; if they really believe that they are the result of evolution; then there are no rules, and no speed limits

#. the result is that many of our children will careen down the highway to Hell without thought to the consequences

#. we need watchman who will see that and sound the message!

#. the enemy is doing everything he can to destroy our community!

#. people outside the walls do not want to be bothered with thoughts of God, His will and His Word

* ILLUS.

The first time President George W. Bush won the presidency, there was a concerted effort by atheists and civil libertarians to prevent the newly-elected president from placing his hand on a Bible during his swearing in.

Some wante inaugural prayers banned at that event as well.