WATCHMAN! WATCHMAN!

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Isaiah 56:10-12  NKJV

¹⁰ His watchmen are blind,

They are all ignorant;
They are all dumb dogs,
They cannot bark;
Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
¹¹ Yes, they are greedy dogs
Which never have enough.
And they are shepherds
Who cannot understand;
They all look to their own way,
Every one for his own gain,
From his own territory.
¹² “Come,” one says, “I will bring wine,
And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink;
Tomorrow will be as today,
And much more abundant.”

Hebrew:  lllame – To be speechless, dumb

This scathing description, “dumb dogs”, is given by Isaiah to those who were the moral and spiritual watchmen for Israel.  Their failure was not unique, but this seems to be common to the teachers in Israel.

The description makes them peculiarly abhorrent.  The writer finds no redeeming features in them.  It will surely be said, “the preachers in our conservative evangelical churches will never fall under this accusation.”  But they do.

They do not deny the Scriptures.  If they are asked about the fundamentals of Christianity they will usually be very orthodox.  When they are measured by the standard of Scripture and history they are found to be “dumb dogs.”

The Prophet’s description, “dumb dogs, they cannot bark,” give us one practical insight into the failure of the modern pulpit.  The leaders of the present day church have a single criteria by which they measure their success, numerical growth.  Let it be added ever so quickly that there is no virtue in being small.  Added to numerical growth is a secondary goal, to reform culture.

With these goals, the greater and the secondary, contemporary evangelical preachers have become silent in proclaiming the real condition and needs of those to whom they preach.  It can even appear as if their titles are adequate to excuse their negligence.

But notice the Prophet’s reasons for their failure:

Vs 10 – ignorance, dreaming or failing to live in reality, sleeping instead of awake and alert

Vs 11 – greedy, leaders without wisdom and with a narrow sectarian interest

Vs 12 – drunken, whose interest is the pleasure of the day

Such is Isaiah’s information for us.  Thus we are to understand “dumb dogs,” silent, mute with self-interest, and ignorant of the real need they are set to fulfill.

The responsibility with consequences resulting from it is stated plainly in Ezekiel 3:17-18, “his blood will I require at your hand.”  Or this responsibility to warn the wicked extends to your life.  It is your blood for his blood if you do not warn him.

But what prevails in the contemporary pulpit?  It is pointedly stated by Jeremiah in Lamentations 2:14 Your prophets have seen for you
False and deceptive visions;
They have not uncovered your iniquity,
To bring back your captives,
But have envisioned for you false prophecies and delusions.

Deceit, unfaithful and people pleasers.  Isaiah describes them well, “dumb dogs.”

What is the result?  A church that is marked by a pietistic self-interest and an abject ignorance of God.  This is the modern day church that can be deceived into thinking that Mormons are Christians, and that a Trinitarian understanding of the God of the Scriptures is not necessary for salvation.

With matters so critical for concern modern day leaders spend their intellectual and spiritual energy debating over the length of day in Genesis 1 and fighting for their portion of turf whether it be television audience, educational enrollment or prestige on the speaking circuit.

The issue is joined and that is the true gospel.  Are we who know it and preach it going to make common cause with those who by their silence deny it?  As Paul would say, “may it never be”.