A CALL TO PRAYER AND TESTIMONY.
“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 52:6, 7.
IN the opening verses of this chapter our Lord declares that he will not rest
till his purpose of grace is accomplished. “For Zion’s sake will I not hold
my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest.” His soul is set upon the
perfection of his church.
A restless Savior calls upon his people to be restless, and to make
the Lord himself restless — to give him no rest till his chosen city is in full
splendor, his chosen church complete and glorious. Ah! when the three
unite, the Son, the people whom he has redeemed, and the Lord who
worketh all things, then shall the golden age have come!
I. THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICE — I have set watchmen upon thy walls;” Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,” Here are
three responsible offices — watchmen set upon the walls, speakers who
never hold their peace, and remembrancers who cease not to plead with
their Lord.
(a) Reason for watchmen Security
(b) Rulership Of watchmen It is written, “I have set watchmen.” We are under divine command.
There was found in Pompeii, among the ashes, a sentry, standing in his
place with his javelin in his hand: he had not flinched amid the deadly
shower which fell from the volcano and buried the city.
(c) Responsibility Of watchmen They guarded the city of cities, thy walls, O Jerusalem.”
If you do not throw your whole strength into the guarding of such a cause as this,
what will arouse you? “Feed the flock of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
(d) Rigours For watchmen “they shall never hold their peace day nor night.”
At night, watchmen are most required. We are to be
instant in season, These must watch always who would be
watchmen for souls, watchmen for God, watchers against error and sin,
watchers for the coming of the Lord. “I have set watchmen upon thy walls,
O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night.”
(e) Role Of watchmen we are never to hold our peace, but make mention of the Lord. Believers are to speak for God
to the people.Ye spokesmen for God, and spokesmen to God, never hold your peace day nor night.
“Ye that are the Lord’s rernembrancers, take no rest.” This is a singular expression — “The Lord’s remembrancers.”
The Lord says, in Isaiah 43:26, “Put me in remembrance.”
II. THE REMARKABLE CAUTION: “Ye that are the Lord’s remembrancers, take ye no rest.” Take no rest from prayer. be always praying. “Pray without ceasing.”
(a) Through Fatigue
(b) Through Fullness
(c) Through Familiarity
(d) Through Fits and Fads
(e) Through Fruitlessness
“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint”; and when they
feel that they are fainting, they should resolve to pray with double
earnestness, and faintness will yield to joy.
(f) Through Frailty ie. don't limit God as to time or place or petition take ye no rest ie. don't stop
III. THE MORE REMARKABLE CHARGE: Give him no rest.”
(a) Importunity is commanded. Importunity is influential with God.
The poor widow seeks justice of an unrighteous judge.
Study that other picture. A man has a friend, who arrives at his door in the
dead of night.
(b) Importunity is communicated
Importunity on our part is the sign of coming action on God’s part.
(c) Importunity is commended
Importunate prayer is the sign of a growing work. The sighs and cries of
the church are growing pains. Prayer is the thermometer of grace.
