To stand in the breach
Ezekiel 22:30-31 “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.”
To stand in the breach or gap, is to see the coming judgment that the Lord will bring….and pray that the Lord will work in power….and give repentance to that one.
Or speak to warn others of HIs Word.
Moses stood in the breach when Israel sinned with the golden calf:
Psalm 106:23 “Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses HIs chosen stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He should destroy them.”
Elisha stood in the breach when Samaria was besieged and in famine, and told the king what to do, and when the famine would be over. ( 2 Kings 6:24-25, 6:32-7:1)
Amos twice prayed for Israel, and God “repented” the judgment he was going to do.
(When it says that God “repents”…it means that God will consider the prayer of His servant, and not do the judgment He spoke of….and see if the people will repent.)
Amos 7:(2), 5-6 “Then said I, O Lord God, cease, I beseech Thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? For he is small.
The Lord repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord.”
But here, when Nebuchadrezzar was outside Jerusalem, in siege….there was no one to stand in the gap, or breach. The judgment that God had warned them of for many years…will come.
(Isaiah, many years before it came, warned them of it:
Isaiah 30:13 “Wherefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.”)
Jeremiah was there in Jerusalem, when Nebuchadrezzar had come the two times before….and taken people and gold and silver.
He had been preaching for years, but they would not listen.
So the Lord told him three times to: Pray not for this people….(Jer.7:16, 11:14, 14:11)
Jeremiah 7:16 “Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to Me: for I will not hear thee.”
He could continue to speak and warn,…but he could not pray. What a solemn time had come for them!
( For the prayers of God’s people are a medicine on the ills of the world.
We are like salt (Matthew 5:13) preserving….keeping in prayer and messages….from the putrid decay of rotting.
Let us not lose our effectiveness, by watering down Christ’s Words.)
These are examples of those the Lord called to pray…that the “breach” between God and His people might be filled by the prayers of HIs servants.
But what about now? What would happen if we forget to pray….or can not pray? “…for the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
And what a terrible breach sin makes….a gap between each and God. (Isaiah 59:2)…that nothing we can do, will mend.
But Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has come to stand in the breach for us.
He has paid the price for our salvation…
…..paying all the penalty of our sin,…
…. paying all the price of our sanctification…
….paying all the price of our home in heaven with Him.
He did this on the cross of Calvary….and was raised up the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4)….and ascended back to heaven. (Acts 1:9, 2:31-33)
Have you received Christ Jesus the Lord as your personal Lord and Savior? (John 1:12) He will stand in the breach for you.
Christ Jesus has also asked us to “stand in the gap, or breach”….in prayer for others.
What about our homes, neighbors, friends, church, nation?
How many do we know that are like a tottering wall, about ready to fall completely? (Ezk. 13:14)
How many do we know that have “holes” in their lives, by sin? (Isaiah 42:22-23)
How many do we know that have come to the place where God is saying to them: “My Spirit shall not always strive with man…” (Gen. 6:3)?
Christ Jesus has stood in the breach….and does stand in the breach of our sin before the Father (1 John 2:1)…as Mediator….pointing to HIs wounds and atoning sacrifice.
We are to pray for others….intercede for them before His throne….for Christ’s sake.
Jude 20-23 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
May the Lord bless our prayers….and our words….
Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 