Upon the Watchtower

Daily Reading: Isaiah 20-21

Scripture Focus: Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights.(Isaiah 21.8)

Devotional Thought: Over the last several months, I have daily - sometimes several times a day! - visited the website  worldometers.info/coronavirus, watching the progress of COVID-19 around the world.  I was watching diligently for the first sign of "morning" - that we had come through the dark valley of the corona virus.  Concerned for the health of my family and friends, and desiring an end to the pandemic, I was driven to pray over and over again for God's protection and healing, and for wisdom for those seeking a treatment and vaccine.  I felt like a watchman on the watchtower.  I know that countless others joined me on the watchtower as well.

The prophet Isaiah had a vision of a watchman upon a watchtower.  That watchman was at his post "continually by day ... stationed whole nights."  An enemy was coming against the city.  The watchman was told to "listen diligently, very diligently."  The danger was real.  It was near.  It was deadly.

We are watchmen, watchwomen.  In the long watches, however, it is easy to lose focus or even fall asleep.  We must be diligent.  The danger that comes against our generation is

·       Real.  Truth has been assailed and rejected on every side.

·       Near.  Today's generation has been lulled to sleep.

·       Deadly.  The wages of sin is death - both for our culture and for our souls.

Are you faithfully fulfilling your duty as a watchman or watchwoman?  Do you see the danger?  Are you praying?  Are you "warning" the inhabitants of the city - by your spirit of love, your heart of compassion, your commitment to truth, and your testimony of God's grace?  Even more than a global pandemic, the disease of sin is real.  It is near.  It is deadly.

Prayer: Lord, you have made your children watchmen.  Help me to see the real and present danger of sin and to point my friends and family to the Savior.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 54.1-7

1 O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might.

2 O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah

4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

5 He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.

6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.

7 For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.