Policemen

Almost any subject one likes to name is at least touched on in the Scriptures and policemen is one of them. Not that the actual word is used in Scripture but the thought is there, so that we have: “The watchmen that go about the city” (Song of Songs 3:3). They were, so to speak, the police on the beat and the previous verses show that it was night time.

There were also watchmen on city walls in those days (e.g. Isaiah 62:6). They were to warn the city if there was danger from without. They were something like coast guards. The watchmen in the city were no doubt there to deal with any trouble that might arise within.

In Song of Songs chapter 5 verse 7 we find that the spouse had her veil taken from her; evidence, if needed, that veils were worn in those days. It is likely that prostitutes wore veils to hide their identity and that the spouse was taken for one as she was abroad in the night as the context shows. This is not just speculation because if we go to Genesis 38:14 we find that Tamar “covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself”, clearly to hide her identity. Judah took her for a harlot (prostitute) as is confirmed in verse 15. Apart from this we have the case of Jacob in Genesis 29:21-30. How was it that Jacob did not discern that he had been given Leah instead of Rachel ? Yes, it was no doubt dark in the night, but may not Leah have worn a veil as brides do today at a wedding ceremony and as Rebecca did in Genesis 24:65. One mentions all this as today problems arise because some Moslem women cover themselves almost completely, only leaving slits for their eyes so that they can see where they are going. Further, a man can disguise himself as a women by such practices. This can cause problems for police today. Is there anything new under the Sun ? (Ecclesiastes 1:10).

However, there are others that are watchers (not watchmen but holy ones). These are God’s servants as we find in Daniel 4:13 and 23. If we are policemen on earth we need to see that there are those above us who see what we do. “The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). Again we have it: “ A higher than the high is watching, and there are higher than they” (Ecclesiastes 5:8). Moses, great man though he was failed to consider this. “He turned this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he smote the Egyptian” (Exodus 2:12), but he did not look up.

February 2010