I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.
— Isaiah 62:6-7
In biblical times, a watchman’s assignment was to protect the people of the city by standing guard on its walls or towers and declare warning of an enemy invasion (2 Kings 9:17). Their eyes were fixed on the horizon, and they were never to sleep while on duty.
A watchman was to watch for the Lord’s enemies, to be messengers of good news, and to watch for the Lord Himself, who had promised to bless His people, their land, and His holy city. In fact, they are asked to give themselves or God no rest until He fulfills His promise to establish Jerusalem as the praise of the earth.
