I will climb my watchtower now and wait to see what answer God will give to my complaint. Habakkuk 2 v 1
Watchtowers have been built since the earliest of times and were frequently built as part of a defending wall and occasionally as a single structure on high ground as an important lookout station. We have had the privilege of walking on a part of the Great Wall of China and discovering its beautiful watchtowers. In its original design and form The Great Wall is thought to have had 25,000 watchtowers built along its length.
The watchtower had several very important functions. As I was thinking about this, for me, the most important aspect was the watchtower as a place of resource and supply. It was where all supplies were kept and so was the place of supply. It was also the place of safety, security, and refuge. The watchtower was the place of communication, to give and receive signals and give an early warning. The watchtower was a beacon, a significant landmark, and could even be thought of as a lighthouse as it was always built with a clear view of the landscape. Often signalling fires would be lit at the watchtowers.
There are a few times that the word watchtower occurs in the bible. The prophet Habakkuk spoke of retiring to his watchtower while he waited for God to respond to his struggles and questions. Habakkuk had foreseen God’s judgement on His people and the downfall of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians, and he was struggling with some very tough questions. “God why are you doing this and why are you doing it this way?” He took his frustration, struggles, questions, and confusion to God, and in his waiting at the watchtower, he was giving God time to respond in His own good time. He knew that God would answer him. The watchtower would be his quiet place of retreat while he prayed and waited. He would watch and wait, confident and expectant that God would speak and answer.
Unless the LORD builds the house, they labour in vain who build it. Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise early, to retire late, to eat the bread of anxious labours. For He gives blessings to His beloved even in his sleep. Psalm 127 v 1-2
If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves? The Message Version
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9 v 9
You have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy. Psalm 61 v 3
PRAY Lord, we watch and wait in your watchtower. This is our place of supply and where your resources for us are to be found. When we are confused, troubled, dismayed and don’t know the way ahead, we come to you in the watchtower and wait to hear your voice. Give us patience as we wait. Don’t let us run ahead with our own building plans. We are in a place of resource and supply. You long to bless. May we trust you. Amen
Jane Coates