WATCHMEN UPON THE WALLS

BY

MRS. ARI D. HIDALGO

Isaiah 62: 1 - 7

For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Isaiah 62: 1-7, is truly a portion of Scripture to encourage and challenge us to be faithful in our prayers for Israel that they might be saved. The Lord says... I HAVE SET WATCHMEN UPON THY WALLS, O JERUSALEM. We thank The Lord that we can be His Watchmen and Watchwomen for Israel.

Isaiah 62 is full of comfort for Israel and the future wonderful blessings that she will receive, and in turn will be a blessing upon the whole earth.

LONG AGO

Long ago, God appointed the prophet Isaiah to PRAY and WATCH, that is, to be a Watchman for Israel. The Lord has also called out individuals, like ourselves as Jewish and Gentile believers who love Him and love what He loves, that is, to PRAY and PRESENT His MESSAGE OF COMFORT to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Isaiah 40: 1 - 9

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

We see that Isaiah was a DETERMINED man. Although he did not live to see the release of Israel from being captive of Babylon nor see the good news of grace through THE MESSIAH, he was finally blessed when Yshua after His resurrection brought captivity captive, that is, when He, the Lord Jesus Christ descended to the lower parts of the earth, called, Abrahams bosom, for the purpose of presenting Himself to the house of Israel and guess what, Isaiah was there. This was part of the beginning restoration for Israel that God had promised to give His people as recorded by the prophet Isaiah.

WHEN YESHUA APPEARS

When Yeshua (Jesus) appears the second time as Messiah and Saviour for Israel there will also be a remnant, for all Israel who are alive at that time shall be saved,

Romans 11: 25 - 27

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

But until then, we have our work cut out for us. Because, during this church age, that we are living in, also known as, the GRACE PERIOD, there is and will continue to be a remnant of Jewish believers within the body of Christ. To God be all the glory, honor and praise.

Isaiah was faithful in what he was called to do. What was his call?

We find it in Isaiah 62:1, and that is, that he was not to hold his peace, as he said... I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth is a reality.

THIS SHOULD REMIND US

This should remind us that he was busy day and night until his earthly spiritual work was finished, that is, he continued through prayer, teaching, and preaching the good and right way for Israel to live before God as recorded in Holy Writ always TRUSTING and OBEYING THE ALMIGHTY GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.

He kept being faithful in the midst of a very difficult time for the house of Israel. He was a faithful witness and indeed a strong prayer warrior to the end of his life.

Isaiah's mission was to bring a MESSAGE OF COMFORT, meaning that, Israels RIGHTEOUSNESS and SALVATION was coming, because the LORD GOD delighteth in her, that is, Israel.

Isaiah was not going to cease from praying and preaching until this would come to pass. He was DETERMINED not to give up and also to continue ENCOURAGING ISRAEL (his Brethren) in WORD and DEED, even though he himself needed encouragement.

God reminds us that it is an act of kindness and well doing when we remember Israel, and others with their Spiritual and also physical needs, before ourselves. He promises us that for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9). Never mind what people say or how you feel, or what is happening all around, for all of this will detract and discourage us.

Galatians 6: 7 - 10

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

We will keep by faith, trusting The Lord, because we want Him to delight in us and also we want to experience the blessings that He has for us and others.

THE WORD OF GOD

The Word of God makes us strong and helps us to be FAITHFUL and DETERMINED, like the prophet Isaiah. God is also our helper, especially when we give ourselves to Him and hide His precious Word deep in our hearts. It is good to memorize and mediate day and night as He directs us in His Holy Scripture, The Word of God. It will become a Lamp unto our feet, and a Light unto our path.

Psalm 119:105

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Israel is dear to the heart of God. God's Word tells us that she, Israel is the apple of His eye. In verses 3-5 we read that she is a crown of glory, a royal diadem, He, God delights in her.

HOW LONG SHOULD WE CRY

How long should we CRY for Israel? How long should we labor together in prayer for Israel that they might be saved? The answer is this Until her righteousness goes forth and her salvation be accomplished... Until Jesus comes into their hearts... How long should we cry, until we take our last breath.

The Lord wants us to love what He loves, hate what he hates. He has called us to prayer for a people that He loves, (the children of Israel) because he delights in her. He is going to give her a NEW NAME. Israel's new name will be called HEPHZIBAH (which means... My Delight is in Her), and her Land, BEULAH (which signifies Married).

GOD'S DELIGHT

God's delight will be fulfilled when Israel becomes one with Him. All of Israel's remnant, as a people and land, will some day be married to The Lord eternally. The Lord delights to do her good, just like He does for believers in The Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we who are believers in Jesus are all spiritually married to the Lord and some day we will be with Him and enjoy His presence and glory forever and ever.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be prepared for us who love Him, Jesus our Messiah and Saviour will complete the beauty of His people.

Revelation 19: 7 - 9

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Israel will be called GOD'S CROWN. When God took Israel to be His people they were to be for His glory and praise.

ONCE AGAIN

Once again He will rejoice over them. Israel as a Nation has not been DELIVERED yet. Thus, God has set Watchmen and Watchwomen like us to continue to pray (Isaiah 62: 8). Today, there is a chosen REMNANT OF ISRAEL and we are called by The Lord God to be His witnesses and prayer warriors for them, (His chosen ones, the people whom He delights in, called, Israel, the Jewish people).

When we are obedient to God's call, we will be blessed to see and hear of many of the Jewish people being delivered from their sins and being born again, washed by the blood of Jesus, thus, obtaining Salvation, being a praise and blessing to The LORD GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.

For God does not lie, but will confirm and perform all of His Word. He will answer according to His good, acceptable and perfect will, which is His pleasure. We are God's cultivated field of Watchmen and Watchwomen for Jewish and Gentile souls to be saved. We will personally be blessed. The Lord God promises that He will... bless them that bless thee, Israel (the Jewish people).

Genesis 12: 3

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

For Zion's sake,

Isaiah 62: 6 - 7

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.