Days 316-17: Lamentations 3 - Ezekiel 3; Hebrews 8

Weekending Experience #3. As you are aware our reading guide gives Saturday and Sunday readings together. Generally, I divide them by day. Thanks for being patient when I take advantage of the guide to post!

We have moved way beyond the concept of 'watchmen' in daily living. Certainly, there are still many places that employ security guards and have watch persons observing the flow of business and any breach of security that may be made. However, I guarantee that the majority of those places have inanimate 'watchmen' connected to some monitors providing live feed. True, there are people watching the monitors...but not always. Even your doorbell, these days, is keeping track of who passes by, and who leaves a package on your porch. In Ezekiel's day (Ezekiel 3:16-21), watchmen sat on a high perch, usually on the wall of the city, keeping a vigilant watch over and against intruders. If the watchman was doing his job, he would sound the alarm against any possible danger. For the prophets, this became a perfect analogy to get the listener's attention.

This is a day and age, as in every age and, certainly in Ezekiel's day, that the need for watch persons is critical.  The very foundation of our culture and society are being threatened. Voices compete for our loyalties and distractions abound to desensitize people from what truly matters. People have been conditioned to believe their are no absolutes, and the center of their universe is their own personal whims and appetites. Many of the issues that Ezekiel addresses still are issues today. We must stand strong and be the 'watchmen on the wall.' The person who does not heed the warning becomes responsible for his/her own choices, but if there is no warning, the watchmen who failed to speak the warning will have responsibility. Christ has called us to be salt and light (mixed metaphors, I know) to influence our culture for what is right and good, and to proclaim His salvation. Watchmen make certain the word gets out! There is a way to avoid the destruction of the deceiver and accuser. Hear the Word of the Lord!