Gāḏēr : A Hedge For God, Standing In The Gap Series

Today we visit the book of Ezekiel for our Hebrew word During Ezekiel’s time. Ezekiel was a priest during the time of Israel when the nation was split. The northern half had been destroyed and taken into captivity in Assyria. And Judah was attacked during this time by Babylon, for the first time, and many of the people were taken to live in Babylon, and included in this group was Ezekiel. So we have Ezekiel living in a poor village in Babylon full of captured Israelites.

And the Lord gives his words to speak against the nation of Israel. Among the many words he spoke about the corruption and evil in Israel, he said this, from Ezekiel 22:24-29, “‘You are a land that has not been cleansed or rained on in the day of wrath.’ 25 There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. 26 Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. 28 Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken. 29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.”

From top to bottom the society has become incredibly corrupt. In fact in one of his visions Ezekiel saw the temple, and there he saw people outside the temple worshiping a pagan god. And a group of women next to the temple worshiping before a Babylonian god, and even inside the temple, they are worshiping false gods, and Ezekiel sees God’s throne leave the temple, and head toward Babylon. More on that in a second.

But at the end of the charges Ezekiel makes against Israel, God indicates the following:

30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. -Ezekiel 22:30 NIV

So God was actually searching out the nation of Israel for someone, some godly leader or person he could use to bring the nation back from the brink, and spare it from destruction, but it says he couldn’t find anyone.

There have been many times when God needed someone and he did have a hero, like with Gideon, or with Moses, or Abraham, and very importantly with Noah. God only needs one man or woman, to use, who is truly submitted to Him, and willing to do his will, to do great things, and it says that God would’ve built up the walls around Israel, and save it from Babylon.

But what happens when there is not even one?

So, we see here in Ezekiel 22:30 our Hebrew word for today, God looked for someone to build up the hedge, or wall, ga?er Pronunciation: gaw-dare'

In the context of Ezekiel 22:30, we see that God needed someone who would become a ga?er a hedge, or wall, against evil, against sin, against Babylon, but he didn’t find anyone.

God is looking for one man to stand in the gap. Standing in the gap pictures ancient soldiers who would be defending a city from attack. In ancient times cities would have walls built around them. So when an enemy came they would have to besiege the city. They would surround the city and begin pelting the walls. Eventually over weeks and months holes would form in the walls, gaps would form, and a soldier or group of soldiers would stand in the gap in the walls to drive back enemy troops who would attack the breach to try to take control of the city.

In many ways we as Christians today “stand in the gap.” We stand in the gap for others, pleading with god to have mercy on them and help them to see Jesus. We stand in the gap when someone gets sick and we pray for their healing. We stand in the gap when we take a stand on a key issue. And we face criticism as a result. But we stand in the gap fighting back the attacks and arguments of the worldly.

Are you a ga?er for God? Are you a hedge for God, standing in the gap for others and for God’s kingdom values?