“Danger, Will Robinson!” is a catch phrase from the 1960’s American television series Lost in Space. The Robot, acting as a surrogate guardian, says this to young Will Robinson when the boy is unaware of an impending threat. In everyday use today the phrase warns someone that they are about to make a mistake or that they are overlooking something.

Obviously, I’m far too young to remember the show from the 60’s, but I’ve heard the phrase used repeatedly among friends, especially in computer programmer circles referring to cyber threats, i.e. hackers. (Why is it always the computer nerds who invent the culture’s vernacular?)

“Danger, Will Robinson!” comes to mind as I read over Isaiah 62, especially as I read Isaiah 62:6. God calls to us through the prophet Isaiah to stand as watchmen over our city. The prophet declares on God’s behalf, “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent.”

Today’s cities don’t have walls that surround them, but the cities in Isaiah’s day did. These walls were protective devices to hold enemies and siege armies at bay, and offered safety to the inhabitants of the city. However, most people did not live inside the protective city walls. The culture of Isaiah’s day was agrarian. Most people grew their own crops, ranched their own animals, and ran their own farms. The city was strictly a commerce center. It was large enough to house the palaces and courts of government, and provided a market center for the trade and sale of good and products. But most people lived outside the city on their local farms. To extend a blanket of protection over those people living beyond the immediate safety of the city walls, the governing authorities would place watchmen to stand on the walls of the city and to keep a wary eye focused on the horizon in order to spot the dust cloud of an advancing army. Once they saw the dust cloud, they would sound the alarm. People, hearing the alarm, would quickly gather food and provisions and hurry to the city.

In the prophetic terms of Isaiah’s day Jerusalem, also occasionally referred to as Mount Zion, is a term that refers to the community of God’s People. Today’s Godly Community is the church. The term used of God’s Community in the New Testament is Ecclesia, or The Called-Out Assembly. This is also more commonly referred to as the Church. Obviously, the community of God’s people is declared by God to have watchmen appointed to stand on the community walls. This is symbolic prophetic language. Today’s churches don’t have city walls or draw-bridges. But seriously, the New Testament Church understands that Christ is our safety, security, and salvation.

Reading this passage with that understanding, we can safely conclude that God has appointed certain individuals to be watchmen to our city and our community. Here’s the deal: if you’re a Christian and if you’re reading this –you ARE the appointed watchman.

The Scriptures go on to say “Take no rest.” This means that you should not, day or night, stop for one second to take a break or to stop proclaiming the truth of the imminent danger of not having a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ. To recap: you’re a watchman, and you should never take a break. Here’s my question: why haven’t I heard you calling out the danger? Why haven’t I heard the Bridge Baptist Watchmen sounding the warning, and announcing the good news?

I know you’re out there. Are you guys taking a break? Are you resting? Where are you? We need you.

The real danger is that the watchmen are silent. Danger, Will Robinson!