“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.” Ezekiel 22:30
Of all the means by which God could reach the world with a saving knowledge of Himself, and provide such a great salvation for men, it would finally be by the presence and person of “a man.” His search for this man, this singular faithful and good man, had its perfect realization in Christ. Before His coming, and now, afterwards, the search goes on, not for the supreme Savior and Lord of men, but for those under-shepherds that resemble him in character and purpose, in means and direction, in the Spirit and truth of Christ. Why then is a single individual, a man, so very important? It is true that God seeks a man because there is an order that He follows. But He seeks women also, for the criteria in His seeking is the same. He looks for a self-less individual who has, in essence, lost his or her life for Christ, to live for and by His Spirit, and according to His perfect will. The individual who understands in some measure the debt he owes to Christ, and the meaning of this salvation to which he is called, is that one who has embraced Christ as his life, to live for the glory of God, and for His purposes. Those purposes envelope the person’s means and objectives for living, revealing the selfless seeking of the lost to win, and this by prayer and faith. The man or woman that Christ is looking for is that one who, by the grace and strength of Christ, embraces his calling as one who will stand in the gap, in some instances to prevent the destruction of the land. At other times, the purpose of this intercessor, and the taking of the position between God and the sinner, is that of a “counsellor,” (Is. 41:28) to communicate the living, Life-giving word of God to men. At other times, this intercessor (Is. 59:16) is that one who has taken a position of faith, to plead the cause and plight of the sinner before God, appealing to the mercy and grace of God. This is that one who, like Jacob of old, will not let the Lord go unless the promised blessing is realized. And then, there is the individual that is called by God to “help,” to “uphold,” to “bring salvation.” (Is. 63:5) The man whom God seeks to stand in the gap to prevent judgment, to be a counsellor to communicate the saving words of God, of Christ, and be present to help, uphold, until the salvation comes, is singularly selfless, but powerful by Christ, by virtue of the grace of God. Christ enables him to forget himself, and by the power of the Spirit, to intercede in Christ’s name before the Father, for the saving intervention of God. Does such a person exist, and where can he be found?
This man whom God is seeking is first and foremost a worshipper of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Spirit. Nothing about this man, concerning what he has to be as an intercessor, is possible unless there is profound communion with God. The intercession that he is called to is a holy one, one that is by the Holy Spirit, for it is only the true Spirit of prayer which will prevail. True prayer is born out of communion with God, out of a life of abiding in Christ, deriving all from Him. In other words, it is impossible to be an intercessor, even though well intentioned, without the vision of God in worship, the strengthening of the Spirit, and the knowledge of the will of God according to the word of God.
The second characteristic of this man whom God seeks, is availability. Throughout Scripture we find that those who are ready, waiting, seeking to see the hand of the Master, and obey, are those whom He seeks.
Dear Father, Make us intercessors today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.