THE BIBLE AND GOD’S WATCHMAN (PART 1)

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939 E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

 THE BIBLE AND GOD’S WATCHMAN (PART 1)

The Credentials of the Watchman

Devotional Text: Ezek. 3:17-21

INTRODUCTION:

God’s concept of watchmanship is to guard souls, and not building or property, which is the dictionary meaning of the word. In line with this, God says to Ezekiel, “son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel, so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me”, (Ezek. 3:17). The Scripture in focus shows the credentials of God’s watchman, which is the call of God and the authority to hear and speak for Him. By way of definition, one’s credentials are letters or certificates that prove one’s identity or qualification. Therefore, in keeping with Ezekiel’s qualification as God’s watchman, one can only be qualified for such a sacred office, only when one is called by God, as well as given the authority to hear and relate His word to the people.

GENERAL REMARKS

(1)       God’s watchman is called by God (Ezek. 3:17)

(2)       God’s watchman is sent to the people by God , (vs. 17)

(3)       God’s watchman hears from God’(vs. 17)

(4)       God’s watchman gives God’s message (and not his) to the people, (vs. 17)

GOD’S WATCHMAN AND DIVINE APPOINTMENT

According to the BBC English Dictionary, “an appointment is a job or position of responsibility”. Thus, the Lord said to Ezekiel, “son of man, I have made (appointed) you a watchman”... (Ezek.3:17), which stands out as a stanza in his credentials as a watchman. This implies that God’s watchman must have a seal of His Divine Appointment, if he must not be an impostor.  No duty of God is self-engaged, as it also falls in line with the biblical expression,...”no one takes this honour to himself”...(Heb.5:4). Therefore, one without the credentials of Divine Appointment in any service one does in the vineyard of the Lord or as a watchman is a misfit, and so, should have a rethink. Based on the foregoing, one who parades oneself as God’s watchman must make sure one is: 

(i)                    Really appointed by God, (Ezek. 3:17; Heb. 5:4)

(ii)                  Not self-appointed, (3:17;5:4)

(iii)                 Not appointed by people, (3:17;5:4)

GOD’S WATCHMAN AND DIVINE DELEGATION

Another crucial aspect of the credentials of God’s watchman is “delegation”, and to delegate, is “to give a particular job, duty or right to someone else so that they do it for you”. In this case, Ezekiel was assigned a duty to the “House of Israel”, to warm them of the consequences of wickedness, (Ezek.3:17). This means that God’s watchman always comes with a specific message to a specific region or system of the world. He must, therefore, not be a copy-cat, who borrows styles of preaching and messages, but unique, both in content and presentation of the information he gives to the people, as well as ensures that they are really from the Lord. In this connection, this lesson asserts that Divine Delegation implies that one:

(i)              Must be sent or delegated by the Lord, as this is one of the seals of God’s watchman,(Ezek. 3:17)

(ii)            Sent by God as His watchman always speaks God’s word and not one’s personal messages, (John 3:34)

(iii)           With the seal of Divine Delegation as God’s watchman is given God’s Spirit without limits, (vs.34).

GOD’S WATCHMAN AND DIVINE AUTHORITY

“Authority”, according to the BBC English Dictionary, “is an official permission to do something”. By way of application, God’s watchman has a “Divine Permit” to act for God’s, which is a part of the credentials of one appointed as a watchman by God. And, the Prophet Ezekiel was well qualified in this order, as he was authorised to warn the wicked, as he heard from the Lord, (Ezek. 3:17-18). To this end, it becomes obvious that one without “Divine Permit” or authority to speak for God lags behind in the credentials of Divine Watchmanship, and this makes one false in one’s claims as a watchman. So, the biblical expression... “Hear the word I speak and give them warning from me”... (Ezek.3:17) shows that God authorises those He calls as watchmen to speak for Him, and this experience must be in place, as an indication that one carries God’s authority as His watchman. In other words, God’s watchman must be a vessel of authoritative word(s) from the Lord, with concrete evidences. In line with the above, one has no authority as God’s watchman where one:

(i)                    Does not hear and speak from the Lord, (vs.17)

(ii)                  Is not sent by God with a mandate to speak for Him, (vs. 17)

(iii)                 Does not get Divine Evidence of the message or prophecies one claims are from the Lord, (vs. 17)

In conclusion, please recall that God’s watchman must be a person of the credentials of Divine Appointment, Divine Delegation and Divine Authority, and anything short of the aforementioned nullifies one’s claims as God’s watchman. BE GUIDED!