The prophet Ezekiel was clear that the sins of the people were the reason for God’s judgment and punishments, God was judging Israel and here He speaks to Ezekiel, “I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and STAND IN THE GAP before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” (Ezekiel 22:30) The application here is about the protective wall surrounding the city: if there was a breach in that wall, enemies could enter and attack the people, but troops that STOOD IN THE GAP would be able to protect the opening and repel the invaders.
Standing in the gap creates a clear visual picture of one who is INTERCEDING (pleading, negotiating with God) on behalf of another. When God determined to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sin, He let Abraham in on His plans. Abraham pleaded (stood in the gap) with God not to destroy the entire city if a handful of righteous people could be found and interceded on their behalf.
The most important example of standing in the gap before God comes in the life of Jesus Christ. His very purpose for being born as a human being was to GIVE HIS LIFE as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the entire human race. This was the ULTIMATE ACT OF STANDING IN THE GAP before God’s judgment. Our sin left us vulnerable to divine punishment, but Jesus willingly OFFERED HIS LIFE as the only acceptable payment for that sin. He STOOD IN THE GAP by HANGING ON A CROSS AND DYING FOR US. “For Christ also suffered once for (our) sins, the just for the unjust, that He might BRING US TO GOD, being PUT TO DEATH in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit…” (1 Peter 3:18)
“…we have one (Jesus) who speaks to the Father for us. He stands (in THE GAP) up for us. He is Jesus Christ, the Blameless One. He gave His life to pay for our sins. But He not only PAID FOR OUR SINS. He also paid for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham