Watching on the Walls
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 62:1-12
I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. . . .
In this vision of hope we find a powerful call to action. In verse 6, God says: “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night.” This is a powerful picture of intercessory prayer, in which people pray for others and for God’s work in their lives. In ancient times the purpose of watching on the walls of a city was to observe what was happening and to spot enemies or danger that might approach.
We don’t have literal watchers on the walls in our culture today, but there are lots of people who do something similar. Weather forecasters tell us what weather is coming. Financial experts keep an eye on the markets. Others watch what’s going on in geopolitics.
Here, in Isaiah, God says that he has put watchmen on the walls—people who discern what is going on in the spiritual realm and pray about it. They are like believers who pray with passion and deep conviction, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
Is there a situation stirring your heart to prayer? How might the Spirit be calling you to pray for your neighbors, co-workers, or fellow students? God invites you to be a watcher on the wall. Strong prayer for others and for the coming of God’s kingdom is a key strategy in his mission.
Thank you, God, for the power of intercessory prayer. As watchers on the wall, we pray for your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.
About the author — Kevin DeRaaf
Kevin DeRaaf is the director of Resonate Global Mission, the Christian Reformed mission agency working in more than 40 countries around the world. With a focus on encouraging others to join in God’s mission where they are, Kevin believes that God’s purpose for the local church is to shine as a community of love and grace, showing in tangible ways that Jesus is the hope of the world. He and his wife, Jacquie, have three children and four grandchildren and live in Burlington, Ontario.
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