Standing in the Gap

This phrase "standing in the gap" what does it really mean?

And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.  Ezekiel 22:30-31

Do we really understand the significance of the job?  Many married couples I hear talking about "standing in the gap" for their spouse.....um, did you READ what that means???  I mean, do you GET how HARD that looks, just READING it?  Walking it out....a WHOLE other story!!!  For me to say, my job is to stand in the gap for my children is actually not too difficult at the moment....the oldest is 9. Easy to say that's my job when things are going well and God's wrath isn't burning.  How often do we step out of the way when the fire gets hot?

In context the above verse is God describing the moral condition of the Jewish nation.  The prophets had entered into a conspiracy of not preaching the truth, thus they would only preach what was popular and positive for the sake of material gain (22:25).  The priests were not any better, for they failed to make a clear distinction between the clean and the unclean, or the holy and the common.  In other words, they permitted a state of moral ambiguity where everything was a shade a gray.  They had failed to teach the people God’s regulations (22:26).  The rulers over God’s people, those in positions of civil and political power, were in the habit of destroying the lives of others for the sake of material and social gains (22:27).   The people of the land, that is, the wealthy landowners, were exploiting the less fortunate, greed and the bottom line was the overriding policy (22:29).   God had searched, but He could not find any man, who would arise as a moral leader to stand in the gap and thus rebuild the moral wall that protected Judah from judgment. 

Morality is like a wall that shields people from divine wrath, yet where that wall breaks down, judgment enters.  Basically, God had said the same thing through Jeremiah, “Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and look now, and take note.  And seek in her open squares, if you can find a man, if there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, then I will pardon her” (5:1).

When I read the above description of God’s people during the time of Ezekiel, it sounds like the moral condition of our nation.  More and more religious groups are conforming to the prevailing culture; the modern “prophets” and “priests” are preaching what is popular.  Oh, this is not to say ALL churches.  It seems like there is a deliberate conspiracy to avoid preaching God’s truth or to keep His truth hidden (Romans 1:18).

There is a gap between what  they cannot see as a danger to them and what someone willing to face the hardship and danger to protect them from what you can see. Justice must be answered and protected, but mercy must find a way as well.  God is JUST, but we can be an avenue of His mercy. This is LOVE. This is why God is God...how does justice and mercy flow at the same time? 

Every generation needs people to form a spiritual remnant, people to rebuild the moral and spiritual foundations and walls which popular culture and the unfaithful have tried to dismantle. 

Jeremiah 6:16

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.  But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

As it may be hard for a time, you will be standing in the gap and building walls that future generations can benefit from....our perspective must be an eternal one.  Let's say your spouse never returns to your home, yet you have stood for marriage....future generations will NOT easily forget the sacrifice it took to stand in the gap.  Let's not be the ones who say, "We will not walk in it." 

Do your children and others know you are not too busy with this life and do they see that you have an eternal perspective? Do they know this by word or deed?  We must not place work and hobbies ahead of the spiritual needs of our families.  No job has the moral right to ask one to sacrifice one’s marriage or the spiritual growth of one’s children for its sake. People/Children need to hear how good God has been, what God has done for you, how God had taken care of you, how God’s ways are pleasant, and how God can always be trusted (Psalm 37:25).  People need to hear about our spiritual success stories. 

Do your children hear you praying for them (and being specific) and the other members of the family.  We have lots of work to get here, so please do not think we have this perfected. Standing in the gap means teaching our boys how to treat girls with respect and honor.  It means talking about the dangers of lust and pornography.  It also means that we do not glorify and revel in violence  (Genesis 6:11).  Standing in the gap also means protecting our daughters from predators and men who have eyes full of adultery (2 Peter 2:14) This will demand that we talk to them, and tell them what we expect, what God expects.

Standing in the gap for your spouse requires the love of Christ, as we have said before.  The heart of our Father is filled with mercy.  He would much rather NOT allow His wrath to burn hot, but He is just.  Are you willing to raise the standard of morality in your home?  Are you willing to step back and evaluate if you are taking the easy road or the RIGHT road?  Have you decided that God's way means that you should never suffer or cry out in pain?  When God's wrath is kindled and you stand in between the person deserving of His wrath it just might burn like hell....are you running?  Or standing firm?  Or lifting up God's standard of holiness and interceding on behalf of your spouse's soul? 

Unfortunately, even in some Christian families, parents play the role of a child instead of a parent.  Are you concerned about what the children are watching in the TV. Are you observant concerning language, attitudes and behavior?  Your children should KNOW that you can tell the difference between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).  Standing in the gap does not mean seeing how close we can get to sin without sinning, or how much filth we can handle without turning off the set.  Standing in the gap means restoring the walls of godliness and morality.  As a the person standing in the gap we are trying to restore God’s standards or are we trying to see how far we can stretch them?  If you have no children are you protecting yourself? Husbands are your protecting your wives?

Often unspiritual people when they are challenged about a certain behavior or practice that they are involved in will have a knee jerk reaction and say something like, “Are you saying this might send me to hell?”  Those that stand in the gap ask an even more important question, “Does this manifest a hunger and passion for God?  Or, does it manifest apathy towards His holiness and His will?”  When you come across someone who says they don't own a TV do you view them with a critical eye or do you step back and think about MAYBE they are manifesting a deeper hunger and passion?  (We have a TV, but who am I to judge someone who is choosing NOT to fill their home with a device that most DEFINITELY CAN cause an apathy?) 

All of the things involved with standing are interlocked.  In order to stand between the fire of God and your spouse you HAVE to love them!!  You HAVE to remain soft.  This is OFTEN and most likely, depending on your situation, a DAILY (maybe minute-by-minute perhaps) cry of your heart.  You can not physically, spiritually, emotionally stand in the gap for someone that you HATE.  It is NOT possible. If you despise the thought of your child you cannot possibly be teaching them the standards of God, as He is love... 

To get a picture of what Christ did for us on the cross, laying down His life for His undeserving people.....how can we FULLY understand what it means to stand in the gap for our spouse.  It's undeserving, yet we are to be like Him. Your spouse may, for a time, even ridicule you for doing it--as stupid.  But when we are drawn closer to God, we find ourselves willing to be more like Him for those God is calling us to stand in the gap for until God prepares their heart to accept Christ's love for themselves.

Impossible you might be thinking? My spouse is just too evil, you may be saying. Not at all! No one is beyond God's reach. Remember He is the Creator of hearts and He knows just what can remold it.

Psalm 51:10   Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

Christian writer, C. S. Lewis, once wrote in his book Mere Christianity that "evil is only spoiled goodness." It is not even original! It is God's goodness that has the ultimate power over evil. God has given us a free will, but it is a limited one with respect to His sovereignty and His wisdom. Nothing is too hard for Him!

So with everything we do in prayer and fasting on behalf of standing we must claim....."Be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20

Christ's journey to the cross, standing in the gap for our sin....was marked with many trials, so learn to expect that those things WILL indeed come.  He took stripes on His back, so rejoice that your stand is not WRONG because of the trials you may endure...but cling to the promises God has given to you. His heart is that NONE should perish.