The name Ezekiel means God strengthens or God empowers. This young prophet of God had experienced some difficult times. He along with Daniel, the Hebrews boys and many others had been carried captive into Babylon. They lost their identity, their heritage and their dignity. It is one thing to be in captivity, but they remained in bondage so long, their bondage became their lifestyle. The captivity in Babylon almost caused them to forget who they were and to who they belonged. In this hopeless situation, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel in visions and revelations that were designed to call the nation back to God and give them hope for the future.
Ezekiel was called to prophesy to the exiles in Babylon. He had to dispel the false notion that their stay in Babylon would be a short one. Ezekiel also identified gross sin as the culprit for their present condition. Sin is the reason for their severe punishment. God will always judge sin. Ezekiel also shared a message of hope for the future. Although Israel had been unfaithful to God, God remained faithful to his covenant people. They still had a glorious future waiting them.
Ezekiel was God’s watchman on the wall. God allow Ezekiel to observe the nation and make an assessment. His observation revealed some serious problems in the nation. The nation had devalued human life, murder and manslaughter were running rampant. There was wide spread rebellion against authority. There was a general disrespected parenthood. Oppression and exploitation of the poor, needy and the strangers was common place. They dishonor God, his ordinances, his word and his holy things. All manner of sex sins: adultery, incest, fornication and the like was rampant throughout the people of God.
Ezekiel 22:18, 19 "Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem."
The whole nation had become as gross of silver, a residue of what they were should have been. They had become almost worthless, something to be discarded. Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” The sin was now a national problem. The prince and the priest were involved. The prophets, tribal leaders, the elders and the common folk were all involved. Oppression and injustice was the order of the day. At a time when life had been turned upside down, God sought for a man.
Largely the Jewish society had given themselves over to idolatry, injustice, uncleanness, and abominations of every kind; and had profaned in the most shocking manner their religion and their service to God. The corruption spread among persons in the community: the prophet seduced the people; the priests broke the law, and profaned the holy things; the magistrates were addicted to injustice, dishonest gain, fraud, and violence. Not only was sin pulling the nation towards destruction, it had deprived them of God’s Divine protection, and was forcing God to send His judgments against them. These sins God hated and determined to judge. Yet in the midst of this sinful nation, God sought to be gracious, so He looked for a survivor who was still standing.
1.To Stand Between Sinful men and a Holy God - Ezekiel 22:30 "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."
A defensive stand! When the problems were at their worst and new challenges coming daily, God said, "I sought for a man among them that can find grace in my sight." As pitiful as the nation appeared to be, you would probably think that there was no one among them that God could use. Notice, God did not go search for an outsider, God sought for a man among them! Our God is all powerful and can do anything but He chooses to work through men. Every protective barrier has failed; Kings, prophets, priest, governors, pastors and judges. God is searching for a Noah that found grace before the flood, Abraham who pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah, or Moses who intercedes for Israel in the wilderness that God would withhold his judgment and have mercy on his people.
The Hebrew word for man is essh or ish, which means to be extant, still existing. It is closely related to the word champion or survivor meaning to continue to live or exist in spite of. You might say, "And I sought for a survivor 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."
You see, in times like these, God needs a man, a survivor, a champion who recognizing the power of prayer and the value of living by God’s standard; someone who has experienced problems and difficulties without compromising their beliefs; Someone who has been tempted and tried, almost knocked out, but got back up again. God needs a man that has fought, suffered, struggled, cried, complained, who has been fearful, afraid and even failed but kept holding on to God.
(A Fist Full of Dollars, and a few dollars more! A Clint Eastwood Film) There is a scene in both movies, when the chips were down and all hope seemed loss. The guns began to blaze, and smoke filled the screen, but when the smoke cleared, Clint Eastwood, the star was still standing. He had been nearly beaten to death, took month to recover and his enemies had forgotten. Yet like a phoenix he rose from the ashes.
God is looking for a survivor that can say, “But through it all, they have learned to trust in Jesus, and learned to trust in God.” Someone who still standing, although the battles had been furious, long and hard. Someone that has been through the water, the fire and the smoke, but when the smoke cleared, you were still standing and pleading with God to have mercy! Mercy suits our case.
2. To Stand as Wall of Godliness against the Allure of Worldliness - "that should make up the hedge" The hedge is a wall of protection. This does not refer to wall made of stones or brick and mortar, but a wall made up of faithful men courageous enough to unite in prayer, live a righteous standard and become faithful stewards of God in their effort to resist the forces of darkness. The hedge around Israel was in disrepair because there was no one who could lead the nation back to God. The prophets and priests were embracing the conduct of the world. They simply ignored the sin problem and white washed the situation. What the people needed was total spiritual reconstruction. They needed revival. Isaiah said it this way, Isaiah 59:16 "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."
Isaiah 63:5 "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me."
Jeremiah said like this, Jeremiah 5:1 "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it."
Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah are all in agreement that God sought for a man, a lone survivor who knows the power of prayer, and who will live God's righteous standard and show up for duty. With compromise all around us and the world is calling right wrong and wrong right. Men must make us the hedge. Godly men must be different.
3. To Stand in the Breach and Rebuild the Wall - God needs men to stand in the gap, in the break, in the weak place. God needs men to close the door that the enemy is using to overthrow the families, the church and the community. Men of character, as Abraham who made intercession for the city of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot had made some serious mistakes but Abraham refused to give up on his nephew. Or as Moses, who stood in the gap for Israel when God would have destroyed them in the wilderness. The Children of Israel were disobedient, complained, and disgruntled, but Moses refused to give up on them. Or like Christ who prayed for Peter when Satan desired to have him that he might sift him as wheat. Peter was short-tempered, spoke out of term and was a little too bold at times, but Christ did not give up on him.
Luke 22:31,32 "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you. that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
Satan was planning the demise of all the disciples, had targeted them for destruction, but Jesus prayed for them. Jesus chose to stand in the gap and rebuild a wall of protection. You see, Peter was a leader, he became the primary target. Satan thought that if I can get Peter, I can get them all! But Jesus prayed, not to prevent him from going through the fire and through flood. He prayed that he would survive with his faith intact. And when the smoke clears, after that trying and testing experience, Peter would be in position to strengthen the brethren. I know there are attacks, the fires are blazing, there are floods, and storms have been raging. A breach has developed in our neighborhoods, churches and homes. God is calling on those still standing, to stand in the gap and make up the hedge. Is anybody still standing? Are there man in the house? If there is, stand between sinful men and a Holy God by your faithful in intercessory Prayer; Stand for Godliness against the allure of worldliness by living Holy. Stand in the Breach, the weak place and Rebuild the Wall by showing up for duty!
4. Standing Godly People are so Important! In his book, Discipling the African American Male, Dr. Larry Macon addresses why this is so important by saying, men are important and needed not only to save the community and church, but to save the families. “Traditionally—historically, the female has been the one to rear the children, sustain the culture and teach the values of our children. Now the female has become absent. Historically, the black male has been absent. That has been the case since slavery, not because he has wanted to be absent, but oppressive forces have made that the case. What's new? Why is the black family as we have known it suddenly disintegrating? Why are the children suddenly at risk? Why are all these black males suddenly at risk? He suggests that it has something to do with the black female. She, too, is now absent.” It’s important for the family. It’s important for the Church. It’s Important for our community.
When godly people began to answer the call of God to make up the hedge and stand in the gap, it will help the community: men, women and children find their proper place. Is there a man in the house? Are there any survivors in the building? Anybody who took a licking, but by the grace of God you kept on ticking? Anybody who use to be lost, but now you are found? Anybody been truly converted, well then, strengthen the brethren? You are a prime candidate to be used by God! You are here today because God wants to use you!
God wants to use you to Stand between Sinful men and a Holy God by faithful Intercessory prayer; Stand between for Godliness against the allure of Worldliness by Holy Living. And finally, godly people who will Stand in the Breach, the weak place and Rebuild the Wall by showing up for duty!
