“Standing in the gap,” has become a familiar phrase among believers, but it was not until recently that I learned of its origin. In Biblical times, cities constructed walls to surround the city for protection and if a breach in the wall occurred, enemies would have access to enter and bring down the city. The gap must thus be defended and repaired.
God uses this terminology to speak to the prophet Ezekiel about His judgment of Israel for their rebellious behavior. “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. (Ezekiel 22:30).”
This is quite incredible. God is willing to refrain from judgment and destruction of Jerusalem hinged on the intervention of a single person willing to stand in the gap. It is also quite sorrowful and painful as the entire city of Jerusalem was destroyed for the lack of even a single individual willing to stand for God’s mercy, righteousness and rebuilding of the wall. Such an offer from God reveals the extent to which He never wants to bring judgment.
MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT
The Bible gives examples of individuals who stood in the gap. Moses prayed and God relented from destroying the Israelites after they made a golden calf to worship instead of God. David took a prideful census that displeased God but stood in the gap pleading with God to spare the people from the angel of death. Esther stood in the gap to prevent the destruction of the Jews under the Persian King Xerxes, even at the peril of her own life. And the ultimate example, God offered His own Son to stand in the gap for all the world. With God, whenever possible, mercy triumphs over judgment.
Pondering the image of a gaping hole that renders the inhabitants of Jerusalem highly vulnerable to attack, I begin to realize how powerful it is to stand in the gap for someone and the consequences when no one steps forward. God, of course, can act sovereignly without our participation but He has elected on most occasions to involve us. Today, intercessors stand in the gap for others under siege from unbelief, sicknesses, crisis situations, inflicted injustices, and destructive social conditions. This is how we work in the Kingdom. We stand in the gap to defend those under attack.
The image of an opening in someone’s life leaving them exposed and vulnerable should powerfully motivate us to pray and activate our faith as we imagine their susceptibility to attack. What happens if we do not respond? In Ezekiel’s time, God judged and destroyed a sinful city because He couldn’t find any one to stand in the gap. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, but He is also a just God. His scales are weighted toward mercy but He needs someone standing in the gap to offset judgment.
WE ARE ASKED TO STAND IN THE GAP, NOT OUTSIDE OF IT OR AT A DISTANCE.
We must war against the gaps in others’ lives and our own with intercession. As James says, “The effective prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5: 16). The word of God,the blood of Jesus and His authority are our tools to work on gaps in the wall. Persistence will be required. Think of Nehemiah and the Jews rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Continual opposition prevailed, but in fifty-two days a wall stood protecting the city. Believers stand in the gap praying until they see results—not just weeks or months but sometimes years. I think of the mother who prayed for her two sons with a serious genetic disorder and received a miracle for both boys, but only after eleven years of interceding. This seems a radical example, but what if she had given up after the first year or the fifth or the tenth?
We are asked to stand, not sit or lie down. We are asked to stand in the gap, not outside of it or at a distance from it. This is an intimate, committed relationship. Further, we are to rebuild the wall, not simply temporarily fill a gap. The needs can be obvious but there can be specific areas to target. And how will we know that the wall is being rebuilt and when it is finished? The Holy Spirit will be essential. He will show us God’s intentions about how we are to stand in the gaps and rebuild the walls.
Persistent wall building rarely comes easily. We will need the Holy Spirit to endow us with diligence and resolve. If we are careful to listen, He will lead us as we stand in the gap and show us how to rebuild the wall. This business of standing in the gap has significant import for God. He is committed and needs our commitment.
Standing in the gap requires humility. Moses was not the one who created a golden calf to worship but He interceded for the people who did and passionately asked God to spare them. Even more to the point, Jesus was perfect in all ways, but he took the punishment for every sin of mankind. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, (2 Corinthians 5:21).” Do I understand it? Not at all, but I’m unspeakably grateful that He stands in the gap eternally for all of us.
THE PAINTING
The twelve panels of the painting accompanying this devotional visualize partitioned objects and the gaps that form in their separation. The gaps destroy the wholeness of the forms and the objects no longer function. The fan does not fan, the bridge does not cross, the hand stamp does not print, the bread slice does not make, the balloon man does not fly, the notebook page does not communicate, the curtains do not conceal, the chair does not seat, the mask does not cover, the key does not lock and unlock, and the Z does not spell. The gaps between the objects create tension and a tendency to want to push them back together.
There are parallels to be found between the gaps in the disconnected objects and the spiritual gaps that dislocate our lives. As physical divisions destroy wholeness and function so spiritual gaps ravage our lives rendering us wounded and dysfunctional. To different degrees, spiritual gaps undermine the plans that God intends for us. As intercessors, we are called to rebuild walls that restore His intentions. God has made the offer to heal the gaps in our lives if someone is willing to stand in the gap. Where does that leave us?
Lord Jesus, we are called to be repairers of the gaps in others’ lives through intercessory prayer. Remind us of the Jerusalem experience when God called but no one would answer and stand in the gap. We can’t repair all the gaps but this is not what You call us to do. Trying to be responsible for every gap and broken wall guarantees defeat. This is a lie the enemy employs. We become overwhelmed and quit. You will take responsibility for the whole. We are only accountable for the gaps and walls that You call us to defend and repair. This is a partnership, not a solo endeavor. Remind us that ignoring Your call for standing in the gap will have consequences.
How thankful we are that You didn’t ignore the Father’s appeal when He asked You to stand in the gap for us and rebuild our broken-down walls. Forgive us for taking Your work in us for granted. Let us instead cultivate an image of ourselves as restored to wholeness because you stand in the gap for us.