“And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.”
(Ezekiel 22:30)

In this past week's reading in Ezekiel, we saw the devastating fallout from Israel forgetting God and forsaking him for gods who would allow them to pursue their own selfish desires.

Its leaders were murderous and unjust. Rejection of authority and disrespect were rampant. The helpless and the poor were neglected and despised. God's people neglected his worship and his good commands. Sexual immorality and perversion of every kind abounded in the name of the worship of false gods. They even sacrificed their children to false gods, the equivalent to getting an abortion today on the altar of self-preservation or convenience.

In chapter 21, God tells Ezekiel to prophesy against the wickedness of his people and to groan and wail and weep over their sin and over the impending judgment of God. God himself would come to exalt that which was low and bring low that which was exalted. He would judge the false prophets who were prophesying peace, when there was no peace.

In the midst of his judgment, God was looking for someone who would stand in the breach and intercede for the land so that he might not destroy it.

In the midst of the evils all around us, and in the midst of wickedness even among the church as a national level, will God find us, willing to weep and groan over sin? Willing to stand in the breach and to intercede for those around us?

If we’re willing, where can we start?

We saw on Sunday that our holy God must judge sin, but that in His grace, He sent His Son into the world to bear our iniquity and to suffer the judgment for our sin in our place.

God is offering abundant pardon for sin through Christ to all who call on his name for salvation (Isa. 55:7; Rom. 10:13). Whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life! (John 3:16). Indeed, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).

And how will our family and friends, our co-workers and neighbors, believe in him without us telling them of the good news? Even if you prophesy and speak the life-giving gospel of Christ to them, can you bring their dry bones to life?

We must pray and intercede for them, asking God to prepare their hearts for your invitation to Christ and/or for your invitation to join you at church.

Without God’s gracious enabling, they will remain hardened to him and to the gospel. They will be disinterested at best and hostile at worst. But who knows what God will do as you set your heart to pray and intercede and stand in the breach?

He loves to come with regenerating power, bestowing his salvation and riches on those who call on his name. We cannot raise the dead to life, but it is easy for him. Let’s not be guilty of not seeing our families and friends come to life or respond to our invitation because we’re not asking (James 4:2).

Here’s a poem based on God’s word to Ezekiel in chapters 21-22, meant to serve our meditation and stir our intercession.

Stand in the Breach
Weep and wail, your God to reach.
He looks for a man to stand in the breach. 
They’ve profaned his name, for his people plead -
With Christ our Savior, I N T E R C E D E.

With prayer + joy,

Ben