Ezekiel 22:23-31: a reflection

23The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 24“Son of man, tell her, ‘You are a land that is not cleansed nor rained on in the day of indignation.’ 25There is a conspiracy of her prophets within it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They take treasure and precious things. They have made many widows within it. 26Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths. So I am profaned among them. 27Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain. 28Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken. 29The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery. Yes, they have troubled the poor and needy, and have oppressed the foreigner wrongfully. 30“I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. 31Therefore I have poured out my indignation on them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have brought their own way on their heads,” says the Lord GOD.

Through Ezekiel, God describes a society gone deeply wrong: prophets who prey on the people, priests who profane what is holy and blur the line between right and wrong, princes who use their power for dishonest gain, people who oppress the poor and the foreigner. It is a bleak picture of corruption at every level. And then God says something that reveals his heart: I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.

Notice what God was looking for: one person who would stand in the gap. Amid all the corruption, God searched for someone who would step into the breach, who would build up what was broken and stand before him on behalf of the land, one intercessor, one who would take a stand for what was right. He was ready to relent for the sake of even one such person; but he found none. The tragedy was not only the corruption, but that no one would stand in the gap.

That reveals something God still looks for: people who will stand in the gap. In every place of brokenness and wrong, God seeks those who will step into the breach, who will intercede in prayer, who will build up what is broken, who will take a stand for what is right when others will not. He looks for the one who will stand in the gap. Will you be that one? Where you see brokenness and wrong, do not simply lament it or join the crowd that looks away. Stand in the gap: pray for the people and places that need it, build up what is broken, take your stand for what is right. God is still seeking those who will stand in the breach; let him find you there.

Lord, amid a society gone deeply wrong, you searched for one who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before you for the land, that you might not destroy it; but you found no one. Let it not be so with me. In every place of brokenness and wrong, you seek those who will step into the breach, who will intercede in prayer, who will build up what is broken, who will take a stand for what is right when others will not. Make me one who will stand in the gap. Where I see brokenness and wrong, keep me from simply lamenting it or joining the crowd that looks away. Help me pray for the people and places that need it, build up what is broken, and take my stand for what is right. You are still seeking those who will stand in the breach; let you find me there, ready to stand in the gap for others before you.