The Watch-Persons on the Wall

By Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson, Sr.

Closing out June as Black Music Month and entering into the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, I want to lift up the song “All Along the Watchtower.”

The song was originally written and performed by the great Bob Dylan and later covered by that prolific and phenomenal scientist of sound, James Marshall Hendrix. Some believe that when Dylan wrote it, he had in mind the scripture Isaiah 21:6-9:

“For thus the Lord said to me: Go, post a lookout, let him announce what he sees. When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently. Then he who saw cried: ‘Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed throughout the night. And, behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!’ And he answered, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.’”

In the final verse of “All Along the Watchtower,” Dylan writes: “All along the watchtower, princes kept the view / While all the women came and went, barefoot servants, too. / Outside in the cold distance, a wildcat did growl / Two riders were approaching, the wind began to howl.”

The position of a watch-person on the wall is a popular metaphor in sacred texts. In Ezekiel 3:17 and 33:7, the prophet is assigned by God as a watch-person on the wall for the people of Israel. In Jeremiah 6:17, the Eternal announces to the people through the voice of the prophet that watch-persons have been put in position to watch on behalf of the community. In Isaiah 62:6, Yahweh posted watch-persons on the walls of Jerusalem to watch “day and night” for the people.

The watch-persons of biblical literature are called to be ever vigilant to both physical dangers approaching from the outside and spiritual dangers that may infect the community of faith from within.

Perhaps Bob Dylan, and later Jimi Hendrix, donned the role of watch-person to announce the shifting of the tectonic plates of governance taking place in America through the turbulent years of the 1960s and early 1970s. Watchmen are those called to scan the horizon for dangers without and to keep close watch on possible disturbances within the body politic of the people. 

Preachers and pastors are called to be watch-persons. In 1967, several people tried to convince Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to run for the office of President of the United States. He would not consider it because he saw his role as a watch-person who could not be constrained by the expectations of political office from speaking truth to power.

The prophets of old were watch-persons for the people of faith against governmental greed and political policymaking that threaten the health, safety, and ability of the most vulnerable to live a life of dignity and wholeness. As Jesus said in Luke 12:37: “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.”

As we approach the 250th anniversary of this nation, let the watch-persons stand vigilant for warning signs that evil is mounting attacks against the God-given humanity of all people. Let us watch for the subliminal and subterranean spiritual signs of a potential shift to a society that will love people and use things, rather than our present society that uses people and loves things.

In Mark 13:37, Jesus said, “And what I say to you, I say to all: Keep awake.” 

We need watch-persons “All Along the Watchtower” more than ever to stand vigilant upon the walls of this society. We must watch and speak justice, refusing to capitulate to the cronyism of racism and the patronage of billionaires at the expense of the people.

Be Alert, Be Authentic, and Stay Woke! Uhuru Sasa!!!

The Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson, Sr. Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ-Gary, 1276 W. 20th Ave. Gary, IN. Contact the church at [email protected] or by phone at 219-944-0500.