God is pointing out all of the sins and wickedness of the people that if they would repent of, he would not have to destroy them… God is looking for someone to step up and build the wall (to stand in the gap). When you have a battle formation, often the army would move together with shields held in front of them, making what would look like a wall, a moving wall. If the enemy broke through the wall, then they would be able to find vulnerable spots to attack and defeat their opponent. It would be necessary then for someone to run up from behind and fill the gap that was exposed.
God sees the wall of righteousness having been broken through, and a gap opening up. This is why God is looking for someone to fill the gap.
In verse 22:30 God says “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land but found no one.” (Reminiscent, I think, of Abraham’s plea to God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah. How sad that God cannot find one righteous person in the land.)
This verse is a reference to an earlier warning that maybe speaks even more clearly; Ezekiel 13:5, “You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD.” Israel was, in fact destroyed. Leveled. People led off captive to Assyria.
Today, we are in such a similar situation where the same immoral conditions permeate our society to the point where I am quite certain God is going to treat us in similar fashion unless people are found who are ready and willing to step up and repair the breaks in the wall and fill the gaps. We need to ask ourselves are we someone whom God can rely on? And if we are not willing, if no one is willing to fill the gap, what can we expect? Just look at what Ezekiel 22:15-16 says, “I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you through the countries; and I will put an end to your uncleanness. When you have been defiled in the eyes of the nations, you will know that I am the LORD.’” Will we see that happen here in our lifetime?
Sharing God’s truth
Pastor Kathy