Stand in the Gap

O. T. 1905 "Stand in the Gap"

March 19, 2021

Ezekiel 22-Part 4

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. (verse 30)

LET IT GLOW

History is full of individuals who made a difference. There have been musicians, scientists, inventors, explorers, soldiers, and presidents, as well as ordinary individuals. Included should be preachers who stood in the gap, alone, and made a difference. So many in the Bible that answered God's call and had His hand on their lives who thought, said, and did what was right, regardless of the cost. Lives were changed and history made as a result of them.

Looking deeper into our key verse, there are some key words to look at first:                                  hedge, which is a fence, wall, an enclosure;                                                                                      stand, means to arise, repair, remain (stand by, firm, still, up);                                                           gap, refers to a break, breach, breaking forth.

We know the problems Judah had were idolatry and immorality. There was a grievous breach made in the moral state of those people, and God saw it. Therefore, He sought a man that would stand in the gap, faithfully exhort, reprove and counsel with all long-suffering and doctrine. (Adam Clarke)

God is looking for a man among His people, a prophet who should get his message directly from God, and the priests who led in worship of God. But they didn't. They told Judah to not listen to Ezekiel, not worry about God's judgment, nor be afraid of the Babylonian army.

God was seeking for one to make a hedge, wall, that had been broken down by the sins of the people; one who would restrain them from sinning, who would reform them, and set them a good example. It would be a good man, that would endeavor by his influence to stop the breaking in of sin, and consequences of it. He would stand in the gap so God would not destroy Judah and Jerusalem. One that would act as an intercessor, praying for them so God wouldn't destroy them. One like Abraham did for Sodom, Moses did for Israel, and Aaron between living and dead to stay the plague. (John Gill)

God was looking for someone to make up a wall of righteousness and intercession between Him and the people; that would stand in the gap, arise and remain firm, and repair the breach and break that was between God's people and His judgment; this was so He would not destroy the land, country, nations.

Life Application Study Bible puts it this way:

The wall represented a wall of spiritual protection surrounding God's people. But this wall was in serious disrepair because there was no one who could lead the people back to God. The feeble attempts to repair the gap-through religious rituals or messages based on opinion rather than God's will- were as worthless as whitewash, which only covered up the real problems. What the people needed was total reconstruction. When we give the appearance of loving God without living His way, we are covering up sins. don't use religion as a whitewash; repair your life by applying the principles of God's Word. Then you can join with others to "stand in the gap" and make a difference for God in the world.

 Are we living with Jesus in our soul? Are we willing to stand in the gap for our family, friends, community, and nation so God does not pour His wrath upon us?

LET IT GROW

Believers have God's hedge of protection, but when sin makes a gap in it, and evil creeps in, then destruction is coming.

The bad news is that God found none. Not one person could be found to stand in the gap on God's behalf and stop His hand of judgment from falling on everyone. God was looking for a person, not Jeremiah, Isaiah, nor Ezekiel, but the others.

Tony Evans says, "This is the principle of representation that allows God to hold back His judgment if He has sufficient intermediaries who righteousness can be credited to the benefit of the unrighteous. When such representatives are absent and the people do not repent, then judgment falls." (See Gen. 18:22-33 and 1 Corinthians 7:13-14)

Only God's Messiah, God Himself, will have the character and credentials sufficient to do what no mortal man can do, intercede for Israel. (MacArthur)

Christ Jesus is He who died, yeas, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. (Romans 8:4b)

Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

That verse is speaking of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Son of the Living God, Risen Savior. See Romans 8:26-36. The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

May we be the ones to stand in the gap so repentance of sin, prayer, and reformation take place. It is God's delight and desire to show mercy. Are we willing to be one? Our nation needs us.

LET IT GO

Let go of time each day and stand in the gap for those we love, so God will show mercy upon them.