Watchman

Watchman One whose duty was to stand in the tower on the walls or at the gates of the city. He also patrolled the streets, and besides protecting the city and its inhabitants from violence, he was required to call out the hours of the night.

To look out, peer into the distance, spy, keep watch; to scope something out, especially in order to see approaching danger, and to warn those who are endangered. This verb occurs eighty times in the Bible. Often it is translated” watchmen,” referring to the king’s guards as in 1 Samuel 14:16 or to those who look out from a tower in the city wall as in 2 King 9:17-18. In other instances, it is spiritual watchmen, who look out, see danger and report to the people.
God’s prophets were also his “watchmen” to warn his people.

Jeremiah illustrates the leader’s job as a watchman. God appointed watchmen over His people to sound the trumpet in times of danger and to serve as His voice. A watchman provides an outstanding metaphor for a leader. Watchmen guard and guide those they supervise. They guard against anything that would endanger the vision. They guide those they oversee, encouraging them to continue on the path toward that vision. They watch out for danger and maintain quality control. They cry out warnings to those who drift from the vision. They commit themselves to finishing the task they began. Watchmen must possess strong moral fiber and must remain committed to a strong sense of right and wrong. Jeremiah served well as a watchman, even though he never convinced the masses to get on board with what was right. Were they backsliders that wouldn’t repent?