Stand in the Gap
One Year Bible: November 11
Ezekiel 23:1-49
Stand In The Gap
“The eyes of the Father run to and fro. He’s searching the earth. He’s looking for those who make intercession on behalf of their nation. Those who will rise up and pray.” (Stand in the Gap, Tom Inglis.)
At the end of yesterday’s passage, there were some haunting words from God that have just stuck with me. I wonder if they have stuck in your heart also…
“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 that 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 22:30)
There was NO ONE, not one righteous person, to STAND IN THE GAP interceding and leading God’s people. That is beyond sad!
God tells a parable of two young girls, Oholah and Ohoibah. Look how closely the two sisters are related even in their names. Who are these girls that God is saying are His own brides yet they are off prostituting themselves with handsome Babylonian officers?
Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. They have longed and lusted for “The Babylonian life” filled with glitz and glamour, idolatry, and adultery. The lure of the sensual pleasures of life has pulled them away from their true homeland as God’s people.
God then gives Ezekiel a picture of how bad it really has gotten. “They have committed both adultery and murder--adultery by worshiping idols and murder by burning as sacrifices the children they bore me.
Furthermore, they have DEFILED MY TEMPLE AND VIOLATED MY SABBATH DAY! On the VERY DAY they sacrificed their children to their idols, they BOLDLY came into MY TEMPLE to worship! They came in and defiled MY HOUSE!”
That is called Pseudo-Religiosity. They have a fake appearance of worship, but worship of “everything” equals “nothing”!
On the VERY SAME DAY, they are sacrificing their own children to idols and then entered the house of the Lord. That is called ABOMINATiON.
Mankind can not worship God and demons!!
So, my mind went back to Ezekiel 14:14, 20 and how it relates to God’s comment that He could not find one righteous person to STAND IN THE GAP for these wicked people.
“Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves, says the Sovereign LORD.” (Ez. 14:14)
What do these three have in common that they are being mentioned here in this passage?
First and foremost, all three of these men of faith had their lives spared when they went “head to head” with Satan in the war of good and evil.
Secondly, all three of these men were outspoken advocates who forgave, prayed for the lost, and spoke up to God as advocates for the ungodly around them.
Noah built a boat when everyone ridiculed him, and he kept on building for 120 years while the world called him INSANE because they couldn’t even comprehend RAIN. He never stopped to voice doubts like, “What will everyone think of me if I do this thing?” His obedience to “Standing in the Gap” spared the world. What was said of Noah? “Noah was a just man, perfect and blameless in his generation.” and “He walked with God.” (Gen. 5:24) He is also mentioned in Heb. 11:7.
Then, there was Daniel who was a young man taken into captivity by Babylon. We see that Daniel maintains his faith in God in face of death more than once. He knew exactly where he stood even though he was dwelling as an exile in a pagan land. He knew to bow in prayer as his normal practice could ensure certain death, but he did it anyway. He does not hesitate to acknowledge the true God and seek his wisdom and direction from him. The royal decree was irrevocable, but so was his loyalty to God. He stood in the Gap three times a day… every day! (Dan. 6:10,13) Here is what is said of Daniel, “You are greatly esteemed.” (Dan. 9:23) and “O Daniel, greatly beloved.” (10:11;18-19)
Daniel was the only Old Testament character affirmed in this way much like Jesus in the New Testament when God said, “This is My beloved Son.” Daniel is a little glimpse of the mediator who is to come to stand in the gap for us.
Then, there is Job, “Have you seen my servant Job?” He was not even a Jew, as he lived before Abraham and the patriarchs. But Job stood up against Satan’s full-frontal attack and his three “so-called friends”, and one spare. In all of his suffering, He did not sin by blaming God! In the end, he forgave his accusers and prayed for them and God restored him twice fold.
Here is what I have learned as I have read these passages, God doesn’t call a group, a board meeting, a church body, a gang… He calls ONE SINGLE MINDED PERSON at a time who is willing to PRAY, PROTECT, and PERSEVERE!
He called Noah, Daniel, and Job… He calls the available, righteous, and faithful.
He calls the person who is PRESENT in the PLACE where HE NEEDS them to… STAND IN THE GAP! Will that person be you and me?
