Wars, natural disasters, earthquakes and impending financial distress of nations throughout the world viewed within the context of what seems to be a complete moral meltdown paint a bleak picture of our world today. In Ezekiel chapter 22:23-30 we find the word of the Lord coming to the prophet and describing an equally dark picture of Israel in that day..
Ezekiel 22:23-30
23 Again the word of the LORD came to me: 24 "Son of man, say to the land, 'You are a land that has had no rain or showers [a]in the day of wrath.' 25 There is a conspiracy of her princes [b]within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. 26 Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. 28 Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says'-when the LORD has not spoken. 29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice. 30 "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.
Not a very pretty picture! Verse 30 has to be one of the most intriguing verses in the Bible. It allows us to crawl inside of God’s mind and heart – to enable us to hear a conversation that God has with Himself.
I looked for somebody to build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap.
Do we realize what a privilege to be able to stand before the Almighty? In Genesis 18 – the Lord God revealed to Abraham His plans to burn Sodom & Gomorah. The same language is used. Abraham stood before the Lord and begged the Lord to reduce or back off.
The Almighty's words are haunting, "But I found nobody." Does it express indignation, frustration, exasperation, futility or what emotion? It could be some of all those emotions. One thing is clear - understanding what God is saying to us today will require us to understand what He means by 'gap'. What is a gap?
Definition of a “gap” = That space between what is and what God says ought to be. What kind of gap is the prophet referring to? In biblical times, almost every city had a wall around it. For protection. A gap refers to a hole, or a breach in that wall that is due either to:
- human neglect
- continual battering assault from the enemy
- or both
Those kinds of gaps never self-heal. Time never makes them better, go away, or disappear. God see this gap, and was looking for somebody to stand in it. But came up empty
Six observations about gaps –
1. There are absolutely no gaps in God. No Gaps in what God is and what He ought to be. He cannot become more like God than He is already. He cannot become more Godlike. He cannot become more loving, or gracious, He cannot become more holy – because there are no gaps in God.
2. A life that is outside the control of Jesus Christ is a life that is filled with gaps. Gaps with a capital “G”. Here a gap, there a gap, everywhere a gap. In Ephesians 2 – Paul’s language about those who do not know Christ. “They are completely separate, cut off, excluded, dead and alienated, distant and far away. That says to me that’s a lot of space.
3. When God sees those gaps – He sends a gap filler. Jesus Christ is God’s gap filler. He fills in those empty spaces and voids that are the consequences of our sin and disobedience to God. In religion we try to fill in the gaps. In the gospel Jesus fills in the gaps.
4. When Satan sees gaps in our lives, he accuses us, he condemns us. When Jesus sees gaps – He prays for us. Which would you rather have? The accuser or somebody praying for you. Note Luke 22 – Jesus took Peter aside – and tells him Satan has desired to have you (sift you), Jesus discerns a big gap in Peter’s life. Peter says he is prepared to do these great things. Jesus goes on to say, “Peter I have prayed for you, that your faith will not collapse.”
5. How do we respond when we see gaps in the lives of other people? Gaps in the lives of others are very evident to us. Easy to judge. Ignore, condemn, or pray for. What is our response? How do I respond when I see gaps in the lives of others?
6. Is there a gap in your life? The space that exists between what is and what ought to be? Is there a space that God wants to fill in? Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have answered yes. Read the Bible, it is full of people with gaps in their lives.
One way to understand holiness – see it as God’s gracious work of narrowing the space that is in our gaps, or maybe, eliminating the gaps altogether. So that, what we ought to be is what we are. We started in Ezk where God was looking for someone to stand in a gap. The message of the gospel is that Jesus is the one who will stand in our gap. Jesus brings healing and closure to our gaps. When we allow Jesus to fill our gap, the wall becomes as good as new.
Will we stand in the gap?
