It is Scripture which says, “His watchmen are … all dumb dogs, they cannot bark … ” (Isaiah 56:10). What a terrific indictment! Of what value is a “dumb dog” when danger is near and those in peril are not warned?
Who are God’s watchmen? Every Christian leader, every Christian worker, every missionary of the cross, every pastor, evangelist, Bible teacher, heads of Bible institutes, editors of Christian papers, and all true Christians are God’s appointed watchmen. God commands that they “Cry aloud, spare not… ” (Isaiah 58:1). But who today is doing this? Who is laying the needs of this fateful hour to heart? Who is sounding the alarm in Zion and blowing the trumpet in God’s holy hill? Through the lips of Jeremiah, the Lord says, ” … the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart” (Jeremiah 12:11). This is God’s indictment upon us today!
America-A Vast Sodom and Gomorrah
America is facing the greatest crisis of her history. People must be shocked and shaken loose from their deadly lethargy. The church and the nation must be aroused to instant action!
When the church was aroused by the preaching of such men as Jonathan Edwards, Peter Cartwright, Sam Jones, and Billy Sunday mighty wrongs were righted. Because of their bold and fearless denunciations against the sins of the people, the towers of iniquity tumbled into the dust. Today we need to pray for fearless, spiritual, God appointed leaders in church and nation to clean up our cities, and hurl anathemas against the liquor traffic and a thousand other evils which threaten our very existence.
Sound An Alarm
Let us quit the “Pilate act” of trying to wash our hands of the responsibility of crying out against the sinfulness of this generation! America is being driven by the forces of Hell. These forces must be checked and challenged by the forces of righteousness. America must be shaken to a deep consciousness of its need of God by God’s watchmen crying out and lashing out against the spiritual and social iniquities of this hour!
God’s watchmen may be alarmists. They may be extreme in their stand. They may be too loud, but their message is as necessary as a burglar alarm when thieves are busy.
Brethren, let us hear and heed the Word of the Lord! He commands His watchmen to “Cry aloud … ” (Isaiah 58:1), and not be ” … dumb dogs … ” (Isaiah 56:1 0). We may say it is no concern of ours; we fool ourselves, but we do not fool God.
It is my affair, and it is your affair! We think someone ought to do something about conditions- but not me! Oh, hear the Word of the Lord! “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression … ” (Isaiah 58:1). Cry aloud, then! Warn the people of impending judgment. Call them to repentance. Be no longer on of Satan’s “dumb dogs.” Be a trumpet for God!
“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm … ” (Joel 2: 1) “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children … Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep …let them say, Spare my people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach … Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto His people … I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: But I will remove far off from you the northern army … And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten … And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh … And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered … ” (Joel2: 15-32).
Who will blow the trumpet? And when the trumpet sounds, who will answer it?