The Issachar Factor
In accordance with Jacob’s blessing, the tribe of Issachar were watchmen and showed an unusual insight into political situations. The tribe switched allegiance from Saul to David (1 Chr. 12:32) – “men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do– 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command”. The sons of Issachar were mighty men in David’s army and because of their ability to understand the times, all brethren heeded their command. They understood the times that God was seeking true worshippers that would worship Him in spirit and in truth; and God was seeking a king that would follow after His own heart and not one who did his own thing. They chose to follow King David instead of King Saul even though David’s camp was a small minority at that time! They understood the times that God’s hand was no longer upon King Saul but was on King David. They chose the tougher and narrow road instead of the broadway where the majority was. They lived up to their name of being a strong fighter and their love of comfort did not cause them to settle for the easy way out.
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Nobodies of the Bible: Agabus, courageous New Testament prophet [Watchman]
Acts 11:27-30, Acts 21:8-14
Most important, though, the primary and overarching quality that characterized Agabus is his courage.
- It took courage to stand as a prophet [WATCHMAN] at a time when the majority of people did not believe in prophets.
- It took courage to stand as a prophet [WATCHMAN] as a visitor to churches that were not his own–especially since both messages were of the doom and gloom variety.
- It took courage to offer an apparently unsolicited word of prophecy to Paul and to take his belt off. Given Paul’s worldwide fame and Agabus’ obscurity in his own lifetime, that’s sort of like a lieutenant calling a general on the carpet.
- It took courage to look and act strange when the Holy Spirit prompted him.
- It took courage to speak out, knowing that people often pay little attention to the prophetic [WATCHMAN’s] word.
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Understanding the Role of the Watchman
This word shamar means to guard, to keep, to be a watchman. It emphasizes the protective element of the prophet’s mantle. The preserving and guarding aspect of the prophet’s ministry is needed in every local church. Many wellmeaning pastors have suffered unnecessarily due to the lack of understanding this aspect of the ministry of the prophet. The shamar aspect of the prophet’s ministry is one of the most important ones, and it will benefit the church greatly.The local church is kept safe through prophetic intercession, prophetic discernment, prophetic praise, prophetic preaching, prophetic teaching, and prophetic worship. This is how the church is best defended. Without a revelation of the shamar aspect of the prophetic ministry, a local church will suffer from many attacks that can be averted.Each church should identify, develop, and train the shamar prophets who have been set in their assembly by God. A revelation of the importance of the ministry of shamar prophets is vital to the success and long-term health of every church. Shamar can refer to guarding a flock, the heart, the mind, a nation, [state] or a city from outside attack or ungodly influences. It is used in reference to keeping (guarding) the gates or entries to cities. Each local church needs a prophetic guard. This is not one prophet but a company of prophets who help guard the church from the invasion of the enemy. Churches that develop the prophetic ministry will have the advantage of being protected through prophetic intercession and the shamar aspect of the prophetic ministry.
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