Stand in the Gap
One of saddest verses in the Bible is what God says through Ezekiel: “And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30 AMP)
A Bible commentary says: “No single phrase in Scripture more accurately describes the work of an intercessor. A gap was a break in the protective thorny hedge or wall of stones that surrounded a vineyard and invited trouble. To bar intruders, someone had to stand guard until the gap was repaired. God is still searching for intercessors to stand guard and by prayer to help repair the breaches…linking God’s mercy with man’s need.”1
God spoke a word that we need today through Jeremiah while he was in prison:
“Thus said the Lord of Hosts to those in exile, “And seek (inquire for, require, and request) the peace and welfare of the city to which I have caused you to be carried away captive; and pray to the Lord for it, for in the welfare of [the city in which you live] you will have welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:7 AMPC)
In other words, request of the Lord for your city’s peace, welfare, shalom. Pray for the wellbeing of your city, state, nation –even if you are captive.
Let’s look at a biblical example of a city that needed divine deliverance. Notice it took a good leader and the people working together to meet a goal. But most of all, God was with them, and He brought victory over their enemy.
When Nehemiah and his band of Jewish refugees set out to rebuild the broken-down walls of Jerusalem, they were met by enemies who tried to frighten them, discourage them, and make them quit. They laughed, despised, and mocked. Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, had complete control of those coming into Jerusalem. As long as the Jews had no wall, no defenses, he could dominate them. Here’s what Nehemiah said to Sanballat:
“The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” (Nehemiah 2:20 NIV). We affirm that the enemy has no historic right to our nation, the United States of America — that includes some leaders who desire to strip citizens of their freedoms guaranteed through our constitution. America was founded on God’s principles.
As the enemy kept harassing Nehemiah’s wall-builders while they worked family by family, armed with tools and weapons, the Israelites grew extremely frightened. Nehemiah said to them, “Do not be afraid of them; fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” (Neh.4:14 NASB) Did you get that? Fight for your houses!
The result? “And it happened when our enemies heard that it was known to us that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work.” (Neh. 4:15 NASB). Nehemiah desired to make Jerusalem a safe, happy city. With his encouragement, the people continued their work and finished their wall of protection in just 52 days.
Our “work” right now is to pray with faith to our miracle-working Heavenly Father. We not only ask for His protection and direction for our beloved homeland. When spiritual warfare is needed, we use the weapons God has provided — using the name of Jesus, declaring the power of His blood, and proclaiming the Word of God. We are empowered to do this because Jesus has invested us with His authority. We can also ask Him to send angelic help.
Because this is our house, our neighborhood, our community, our state, and our nation!
We pray that righteousness will reign. Writing letters and making phone calls to elected leaders is another way to stand in the gap. We can talk to neighbors. We can get on prayer calls. We can vote for candidates of integrity who have God-honoring values. We can put feet to our prayers.
Recently someone quoted this Scripture to me comparing it to some—not all—leaders over us. “Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways. Who is the Almighty that we should serve Him?’” (Job 21:14, 15a)
George Washington, once said, “It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.”
Let’s not give in to fear or apathy nor neglect to use our voices and pens to help save our house—the USA. Let’s get out and vote. Let’s keep praying. Let’s be gap-standers for our country!
Prayer: Father, show each of us how we personally are to become involved to stand in the gap for America’s destiny. We know it is Your desire to save our nation and use us to be used in the next spiritual Great Awakening. We ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Scripture:” Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV)
“For the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:15)
Footnote:
1. Jack W. Hayford, ed., Spirit Filled life Bible, NKJV, Nashville, TN.: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991) 1186.
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