What are the duties of a watchman? Really there is only one duty--watch for anything or anyone approaching and make it known. The Lord had this requirement for the watchmen of Israel. To the prophet Ezekiel he infers that when a sword comes against the land, the expectation is that the watchman "sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people" (Ezekiel 33:3). The responsibility of the hearer is to heed and respond. If the call is not heeded, “his blood shall be upon his own head” (Ezekiel 33:4). The unheeding listener bears his own consequences for ignoring the truth of a clear and present danger.
This is essentially the duty of the elders in the local church. Paul makes this plain in Acts 20:28-31 where he warns the elders to look out for themselves, the flock, and those who might come in or arise among them destroying the Lord's work. The elders are called to act accordingly when the danger manifests itself. Later, Paul writes that the elders are to rebuke false teaching sharply “that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13). This is a difficult but necessary task. Warnings must be sounded strongly with the complementary attention to build up the flock in the assurances of Christ.
What happens to the watchmen who is lax in his duties? “His blood I will require at the watchman's hand” (Ezekiel 33:6). The Lord himself rises up against the spiritual leader to deal with the problem.
For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:30-31
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