Standing in the gap

Ezekiel 22:30-31 (NLT)

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.  So now I will pour out My fury on them, consuming them with the fire of My anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Ezekiel 22 describes the sins of people--spiritual leaders (prophets and priests), government leaders (princes) and all Israeli people--- that had become so great that God Himself had begun the effort to find a person who would intercede for these sinful people.  Verse 30 says that He “found no one”.  The person God was looking for was someone who could “stand in the gap” in the wall of righteousness that guards the land.  Because He could find no one who could fulfill this need, He had to proceed to punish the people for their sins.  That punishment was the fall of Jerusalem and nearly all the Jewish people exiled to other lands. 

Standing in the gap has several meanings.  Think of a bridge without which you could not go from one side to the other.  Standing in the gap bridges right against wrong.  Who is standing up against rampant immorality that is increasing in our nation?  All you have to do is think about what you can watch on TV today versus what was allowed in past years to be reminded of how much our society has fallen away from God’s moral standards.  Someday God is going to punish America just like He punished Israel/Judah unless He can find individuals willing to stand in the gap and put a stop to rampant immorality.  Frankly, does anyone believe that our nation will reverse this downward trend?  Yet, nothing is impossible with God if He should see people standing in the gap.  The question is, will He?   

Standing in the gap allows someone to take that next major step in his/her life.  Who has stood the gap for you in your Christian walk?  Who has helped you grow from a Christian baby to a Christian adult?  Or, are you still someone who cannot yet stand on your own spiritually?  You need someone to stand in the gap for you until you can on your own. 

Standing in the gap is to come alongside a person in need, praying for them, prayerfully helping them make needed changes in their life, and sharing your time and effort with them.  Who has been willing to stand for you when you could not yet stand for yourself?  Are you now standing in the gap for someone else who cannot help themselves?  Who are you influencing spiritually these days?  For whom has God called you to pray and intercede?

God is constantly “roaming the earth” (II Chronicles 16:9) to find people “whose heart is completely His”.  There are plenty of gaps in ministry, missions work, schools, neighborhoods, even businesses that need people—God’s people—to stand in those gaps.  God is always looking for men and women to fulfill His purposes on the earth, to stand in the gap.  Are you someone He would call to respond to Him, to make a difference in others’ lives, to fulfill a calling to represent Him on the earth?  Where might there be gaps that you believe He is calling you to stand and be the bridge in that gap? 

Babbie Mason wrote and sang these words:

“I heard that you were hurting, that you were suffering pain. 

But I didn't dare just turn my head and look the other way. 

For when your heart is aching, my heart is aching too. 

Let me help you bear your burden, that's the least that I can do. 

I'll be standing in the gap for you.

Just remember someone, somewhere is praying for you. 

Calling out your name. 

Praying for your strength. 

      I'll be standing in the gap for you.”