WHAT or WHO is a "WATCHER" ???

If it was up to me, this would have been in the study on Angels. But God, in His infinite wisdom, knows all things. He knows us intimately. He has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ.

There you are,
prodding me,
saying: "Tell us already!"
Asking: "What is a watcher?"

Well, in the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar addressed his kingdom to testify about the magnificence of the Most High God. He recounted what happened to him. He had a puzzling dream. The dream was so strange that he called for all his wise men, magicians, astrologers and soothsayers from all corners of his kingdom, so they could tell him what it meant but none of them could.

Finally Daniel came before the king and the king told Daniel what he had dreamt. The king said he saw a 'watcher' and a 'holy one' who had come down from Heaven and had told him many things. The watcher and the holy one are our focus here. What or who are they? The scripture says:

“I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;” (Daniel 4:13)
“This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Daniel 4:17)
“And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;” (Daniel 4:23)

When I researched the word “watcher” in this scripture I discovered that it comes from the Hebrew (Aramaic) IYR, pronounced ēr. It literally means ‘a guard’, ‘wakeful one’ and also means ‘a watcher’. “Holy one” in this scripture comes from the Hebrew (Aramaic) QADDIYSH, pronounced kad dēsh'. It literally means ‘holy’ and ‘separate’ in the sense that whatever is holy is separated from all ungodliness. These signify angels who watch and guard us humans.

They brought the king a message and made a declaration against him. The scripture says their words were a decree (v. 17) so that the living may know that God rules over man. Daniel explained to King Nebuchadnezzar what the dream meant and everything happened to the king just as Daniel had explained it.

The king recovered after the time had passed and was re-established in his kingdom. The watchers and holy ones were the ones who ensured that everything God had intended for the king happened. King Nebuchadnezzar began to praise, extol and honor the Most High God after that.

The fact of the matter is that these watchers and holy ones are around us all the time too. They are in our houses, in our yards, in our apartments, at our jobs and with us in our schools. They walk with us, take the cab with us, catch the bus or the train with us and are even there with us in our cars or while we sit in the café to eat.

They literally follow us everywhere we go to ensure that God’s will or desire for us is strictly carried out. This is such an awesome demonstration of God’s love for us. We have our own personal Heavenly ‘secret’ agents. WOW!!!

Praise God!