Jump Start # 352 

Ezekiel 33:6 “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman’s hand.” 

  Ezekiel writes about the watchman of the city. Earlier, in the third chapter he says similar things. We get the image of a sentry peering over the city walls, looking on the horizon for rising dust, the sign of approaching armies. Every day this is his job. The city puts it’s safety in his hands. He is trusted. On one day, the enemies advance. The watchman sees. But for some reason, he doesn’t blow his trumpet. The city is unprepared. They are caught off guard. The city is taken and many are killed. It may have happened anyway, but had the watchman done his job, some resistance may have taken place and some may have had time to flee. A disaster took place that didn’t have to. Someone didn’t do their job. They were asleep at the helm and the ship crashed.

  This passage reminds us that we not only need each other, but that we count upon each other. This is true in the family and this is true in the church. We have different roles and different responsibilities and when everyone is busy doing what they are supposed to, things function well. When they are not, it’s a mess. Ask any parent of a teenager who seems to have forgotten that he has a closet for his clothes. The floor is cluttered with stuff and it’s a disaster to the eyes of a parent. We all have roles and functions.

  The important role of the watchman falls especially to two unique groups of people.

  In the family, it is the role of dad. That is why he is called the head. Not so much because he is the boss, nor that he gets his way, but more so, because he is the leader. The feet don’t move unless the head sends impulses that direction. It is dad’s role to see that the family is growing, maturing and getting closer to God. This has been a major letdown for generations. I’ll see Mom and the kids at the church house and dad is either asleep in bed or he’s out fishing. He works hard and deserves his time off, Mom says. Don’t we all? He took on the role of the leader when he said, “I do,” in a marriage. He is the watchman. He is responsible. Does he know what the kids are watching on TV? Does he know what they are texting to their friends? Does he even know who their friends are? The enemy is advancing, and dad is asleep on the couch. The enemy is not a foreign nation, but Satan. He wants to lead those young and tender hearts away from God. Satan will tempt teenagers to be sexually impure in thought, dress and attitude. Is the watchman aware that the enemy is near? Satan will chip away at the marriage. Does the watchman know that. If this watchman falls asleep at the helm of the ship, the family will drift into bad attitudes, selfish ways and destruct into dysfunction. The family needs Jesus. The family needs direction. The family needs someone who is watching. Too often, mom has to do it because dad won’t. That’s not God’s design. Step up men. It’s your time for guard duty. Take your trumpet in hand and climb the ladder and watch over the walls of your family’s heart. If the enemy takes over and you have not blown the warning sound of the trumpet, you shall be guilty. God bless the many dads you are involved, connected and caring enough to warn their family. The warning trumpet often sounds like a word, and that word is “NO.” No you can’t wear that…no you can’t stay out that late…no you can’t say those words…no you can’t skip church…No. And dad knows why. The enemy is advancing and he is trying to save the family.

  Saying no won’t win you the father of the year award, but that’s ok. You have a greater image that you want and that is for your children to grow up godly, decent and productive in this world. Children need direction. They need instruction. Your children will learn, either the right way from you, or the wrong way from influences of friends or TV. They will learn about love—either the right way and that love is a gift and it is about pleasing others, or they will learn from friends and that love takes and cares only about making self happy. They will learn about God, either from you and that He is awesome, loving and wants the best for you, or they will learn about God from science class and that is He doesn’t exist. They’ll learn about the church, money, sex, responsibility—either the right way from you or the wrong way from others. Watchman, your task is heavy. People are counting upon you. God is counting upon you.

  Dad’s who are too busy with themselves will regret that someday when they learn that God wanted them to sound the trumpet but they weren’t even on the wall watching.

  We will continue these thoughts tomorrow with the watchmen of the church.

  To the walls, Dads. The sound of approaching hoof beats can be heard. The family needs you.

Roger