The Bible is filled with illustrations from the lives of ancient times which are then used to make great spiritual applications. When God spoke to Israel through His prophet Ezekiel, He used the expression of “a man standing in the gap” (Ezek. 22:30). We may not readily see what this man was doing, but it was well understood by the men in Ezekiel’s day.
Men in the gap, breaches in the city walls and ancient warfare. The cities in the Old Testament were protected by walls, watchmen on top of those walls and fortified gates. The most skilled soldiers were posted atop the walls to ensure the safety of the city. However, there were those times when enemy soldiers were able to break down the wall and create gaps so they could enter and plunder the city. When such emergencies occurred, it was imperative that someone, even if he was not a highly trained soldier, stand in that gap and protect the city at all cost.
Gaps in the wall around the city of Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s day. This imagery was used by Ezekiel to describe what was spiritually happening to Israel. Spiritual gaps were in the walls, yet not one person was willing to do anything about them. There were political gaps. The rulers were self-centered and unashamedly taking bribes to become wealthy (Ezek. 22:27). There were religious gaps created by their leaders who used their positions to take the possessions of the people and oppressed the poor, especially widows (Ezek. 22:25). They also covered their actions by acting like they were working on these gaps and claimed to see visions from God (Ezek. 22:23-28). They were even making up messages and saying, “Thus says the Lord.” Inside the walls there were the citizens creating “gaps” by oppression and robbery (Ezek. 22:29). The gaps were obvious, but nothing was being done to close them. God said, “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me…but I found no one” (Ezek. 22:29).
Gaps in our walls, and God looks for a man. There are gaps all around us locally and nationally. There are gaps in our homes when parents are too busy to stand for what is right. There are gaps in the church when preaching has so little Scripture.
God looks for those to stand in the gaps. They must be vigilant. They must be courageous. They must be focused and determined to stand at all costs.
The question is whether you are willing to be that person to deal with the reality of gaps in the wall. Consider this. God is looking for just one person to stand in the gap. Godly men and women have stood in the gaps in the past. God is looking for a man to stand, and that person can be you!