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Throughout ancient Jewish history,
the royal priesthood was ordained to perform specific religious rites, as
instructed by God. One of those responsibilities was to take shifts standing as
watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem. The walls were never left unattended day,
or night. We, who are Christians, are also of the “royal priesthood” before
God, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (all
Christians) a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him
who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9. If
you review Peter’s letter to the saints in 1 Peter 2 in its entirety, the letter starts
out to “newborn babes” in Christ; he is not addressing ministers, or even
seasoned Christians. Peter referred to them in verse 2 as “newborn babes,” yet
he continues on to admonish them to grow in the “milk of the Word.” He still,
nevertheless, refers to them as a “royal priesthood.” We are all called to be
witnesses, whether seasoned in Word of God, or just “newborn babes” in Christ,
we can all share what Christ has done for us, how He saved us from a life of
sin and ruin, leading to eternal damnation in hell; and how we can now look
forward to eternal life in the “New Jerusalem” (Revelation 3:12; Revelation 21:2). The greater our knowledge in
the Word and the greater our sphere of influence, of course, leads to a greater
responsibility before God. The Old Testament is a type and shadow of the New
Testament, or “New Covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:8) and all of the old ordinances
reflect upon the new. God warned his watchman, however, when He spoke to
Ezekiel, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman unto the house of Israel,
therefore hear the Word at My mouth and give them warning from Me. When
I say unto the wicked, You shall surely die, and you give him not warning, nor
speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, the same wicked
man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand.
Nevertheless, if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he
does not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned, also you have
delivered your soul” Ezekiel 3:17-21. We, under the New Covenant, are
spiritual watchmen on the wall. It is our responsibility, even as a “royal
priest” under the priesthood of Christ and the New Covenant, to warn the sinner
not to sin, but to rather repent and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Paul instructed the believers in Galatia, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a
fault, you which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness,
considering yourself, lest you also be tempted” Galatians 6:1. So, the Word is
very clear; we are called to be royal priests, as followers of Christ, and call
sinners to repentance; and we are called, according to the instructions given
to us by the Apostle Paul, to reprove one another and encourage one another in
the faith, in a spirit of meekness, so our brothers and sisters in Christ do
not fall into deception, which can lead to eternal spiritual death, and our
resurrected bodies forever in hell. The Prophet Isaiah spoke about derelict
watchmen, “His (God’s) watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant, they are all
dumb dogs, they cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they
are greedy dogs, which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that
cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his gain from
his quarter” Isaiah 56:10-11. God reproved the watchmen of Isaiah’s day.
Apparently, they had no taste for fulfilling their responsibilities before God,
but rather allowed themselves to become “blind” to truth, not barking (warning
God’s people), but “loving to slumber.” We don’t like to engage in conflict,
especially when it comes to truth and confronting sinners (but just let a bad
driver cut us off on the road, however); we don’t want to upset anyone, or God
forbid, make anyone feel uncomfortable about their sins. We, as children of
God, as God’s “royal priesthood” and “watchmen” under the “New Covenant,” need
to take heed. We need to remember the Word of the Lord that came to Isaiah
about the blind, dumb dogs and slumbering watchmen that were derelict in their
duties, because God warned them that the blood of those they failed to warn
would be on their hands come Judgment Day. The same message applies to us.
If we have children, siblings, parents and friends that are going merrily along
the path of destruction, with no conviction about their sins, we had better
warn them, lest their blood be upon our hands. “I write not these things
to shame you, but as my beloved sons, I warn you” 1 Corinthians 4:14. Eternity
lasts a very long time, friends. We will not stand blameless before God if we
fail to be watchmen and warn.