Today’s selected passage continues in the Old Testament prophetic book of Jeremiah, and more specifically, is found in the first fourteen verses of the seventh chapter. STAND! STAND IN THE GATE! STAND IN THE GATE OF THE LORD’S HOUSE! STAND IN THE GATE OF THE LORD’S HOUSE AND PROCLAIM! STAND IN THE GATE OF THE LORD’S HOUSE AND PROCLAIM THERE! STAND IN THE GATE OF THE LORD’S HOUSE, AND PROCLAIM THERE THIS WORD! This passage of Scripture opens with a specific word which came to the prophet Jeremiah from the Lord. The word began quite simply with a pointed instruction to stand—and not just stand, but stand in a very specific place. As I’m sitting here right now I can’t help but pause for a moment and consider those times when the Lord instructs and commands us to stand. I can’t help but think of those times the Lord instructs us to stand in a specific place, at a specific time, and for a specific purpose. Has the Lord ever instructed you to stand in a specific place, and to do so for a specific time, and for a specific period of time? When was the last time the Lord instructed you to stand in a specific place, and to do so for a specific purpose? I can’t help but be reminded of the words of the prophet Ezekiel which are recorded in the twenty-second chapter of the prophetic book which bears his name. “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” (Ezekiel 22:30-31). In this particular passage the Lord of hosts speaks directly to the prophet Ezekiel about a specific need He had within the earth. WHEN THE LORD NEEDS SOMETHING IN THE EARTH! WHEN THE LORD NEEDS SOMETHING FROM YOU IN THE EARTH! It’s worth noting that the Lord of hosts declared that He “sought for a man” among them [the house of Judah], and He did so for a specific purpose. The Lord of hosts actively searched among the inhabitants of the house of Judah for something very specific—one who would make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Him for the land. The Lord of hosts was looking for someone to stand in a very specific place—to stand in the gap before Him on behalf of the land. STANDING IN THE PLACE OF THE BREACH! STANDING IN THE PLACE OF AN OPENING! STANDING IN THE PLACE OF EXPOSURE! STANDING IN THE PLACE OF SUSCEPTIBILITY!

 When I read the words recorded in the twenty-second chapter of the prophetic book of Ezekiel, I can’t help but consider the strong reality the Lord sought for a man to stand in a place of need. WHEN THE LORD CALLS YOU TO STAND IN THE PLACE OF NEED! The Lord of hosts revealed to the prophet Ezekiel that He sought for a man from among the inhabitants of the house of Judah who would do and accomplish two specific things—to make up the hedge, and to stand in the gap before Him for the land. BEFORE ME! FOR THE LAND! Pause for a moment and consider the incredible reality of these words, for when the Lord spoke to the prophet Ezekiel, He spoke to him of a man standing in a specific place before Him, and for the land. In essence, standing in that specific place not only impacted the Lord, but also impacted the inhabitants of the land. When the Lord spoke to the prophet Ezekiel about standing in the gap, He spoke to him about standing in the gap before Him, and doing on behalf of the land. Standing in the gap was done before the Lord, as the Lord undoubtedly would watch and observe the actions of that one who would stand in that place. The Lord sought for a man among them who would stand in the gap before Him for the land—a powerful reality which reveals that the one who would stand in this gap would do so not for themselves, but on behalf of the land. BEFORE THE LORD ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE! BEFORE THE LORD ON BEHALF OF THE LAND! Please don’t miss this twofold reality, for when it comes to standing in the gap, it never has anything to do with you specifically and in particular. If the Lord has ever called you to make up the hedge, and to stand in the gap before Him, it has never, is never and will never have anything to do with you, nor will it ever be about you. Standing in the gap “before the Lord” means that your words, your actions, your deeds are open and exposed before the Lord. Standing in the gap before the Lord “for the land” suggests and speaks of the incredible reality that the Lord has called you to enter into a place of unwavering selflessness and sacrifice. To stand in the gap before the Lord and on behalf of the land means the Lord is calling you to a place where you must make the land and the people your primary concern. Those who have been called—those who are presently being called—to stand in the gap before the Lord on behalf of the land are called to essentially lay themselves down upon the altar and cross of the Lord, and to spend their days and their time concerning themselves with the condition of the land.

 THAT I SHOULD NOT DESTROY IT! Please don’t quickly ignore or dismiss these words, for these words reveal the purpose, the reason and the nature for the Lord’s seeking a man to stand in the gap before Him for the land. The purpose for the Lord’s seeking a man to stand in the gap before Him on behalf of the land was to stand between the land and the judgment, to stand between to people and the judgment. STANDING BETWEEN THE LAND AND JUDGMENT! STANDING BETWEEN THE PEOPLE AND JUDGMENT! The need, the desire, the request of the Lord in this particular portion of Scripture is utterly and completely amazing, for the Lord scanned the landscape of Judah and Jerusalem in search of one who would stand in the gap—not only stand in the place of vulnerability and exposure, but also stand in between the land and judgment. You have undoubtedly heard men and women speaking of another and their willingness to take a bullet for them—in essence coming in between themselves and the bullet launching forth from the barrel of a gun pointed directly at them. The concept of “taking a bullet” for another simply suggests coming in between the trajectory of that bullet and the intended target of the bullet. Undoubtedly you have also heard of men and women either pushing another out of the way of a moving car in order to save and spare them from experiencing the impact. Some times when this happens, the one who was removed from the path and trajectory of the car experiences safety, while the one who sacrificed themselves might have undoubtedly experienced the force and brunt of the impact. There have been cases and accounts in the news where men and women have thought and cared nothing about or for themselves, and have placed themselves in the path and trajectory of a moving car. Or perhaps consider someone who places themselves in the path of oncoming traffic in order to usher someone else to safety. While these words are undoubtedly from a secular song, the reality and concept they paint help illustrate this point even more. “What you don’t understand is I’d catch a grenade for ya, throw my head on a blade for ya, I’d jump in front of a train for ya, you know I’d do anything for ya. Oh oh, I would go through all this pain, take a bullet straight through my brain. Yes I would die for ya…but you won’t do the same.”

 I remember listening to this song by Bruno Mars for the very first time and considering how incredibly morbid the lyrics of this song actually were. Consider the concept of catching a grenade for someone else, and the incredible impact that would have on the individual who agreed to catch the grenade. Consider the concept of even throwing your head on a blade for another [a reality which I have yet to hear anyone actually be willing to do]. Within this song Bruno Mars also speaks of going through all this pain and even taking a bullet straight through his brain for the one to whom he was singing. The chorus ends with a declaration that he would die for the one to whom he was singing, yet being confronted by the reality that they would not reciprocate nor return the same type of commitment. In all reality, the lyrics of this song—while they are undoubtedly secular and not found or sang in Christian churches and congregations—speak of the incredible burden, the incredible weight, the incredible responsibility of committing oneself to another. One of the things that I can’t help but think of when considering this reality is how more often than not you don’t hear of such instances occurring between individuals who have any intimate knowledge of or affiliation with those to whom they spared from certain tragedy, hurt and pain. I’m sitting here right now and I can’t escape the thought of placing myself between the trajectory of a bullet that was fired from the barrel of a gun—especially a bullet that was fired and intended for someone else. STEPPING IN FRONT OF A BULLET THAT WASN’T INTENDED FOR YOU! STEPPING IN FRONT OF A CAR WHEN YOU YOURSELF WEREN’T IN THE PATH! Pause for a moment and consider what would prompt someone to take and remove themselves from a place of safety and security and place themselves in a place of hurt, in a place of pain, in a place of certain disaster. Consider for a moment what goes through the heart and mind of that individual who shoves and pushes someone else out of the way of a fired bullet in order that they themselves might take the force and blow of the bullet. Consider what could possibly go through the heart and mind of that individual who would deliberately and intentionally remove themselves from the place of safety and security in order that they might bring another to safety. I am reminded of the words of the apostle Paul when writing to the congregation that was found in Rome—“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:6-11).

 STANDING IN THE PLACE OF JUDGMENT! STANDING IN THE PLACE OF DISASTER! STANDING IN THE PLACE OF CALAMITY! Even as I began writing about these words this morning I just happened to go on to my Facebook page and no more than two posts down on my newsfeed I saw a video of a 56-year old grandmother who wrestled a grown man to the ground in an attempt to save the life of a police officer. The video went on to explain that the police officer was performing what he undoubtedly thought was a route arrest, when suddenly and without warning the man he was arresting turned violent and turned on him. Eventually the two men became engrossed and immersed in a life and death struggle as the assailant undoubtedly sought to resist arrest. The video reports how countless cars proceeded to drive by without stopping to help the police officer—undoubtedly and certainly witnessing the chaotic event taking place. Countless cars continued to drive by the scene until one specific car approached the situation and saw what was taking place. The video recounts how the eyes of the woman locked with the eyes of the police officers, and how the look in the eyes of the officer begged for help. THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU EYES LOCK WITH A PLEA OF DESPERATION! The video progressed to reveal how the woman got out of her car and immediately called 911 before jumping on to the back of the assailant. The woman remained on the back of the assailant to hopefully subdue him, and then notice him attempting to reach for the gun of the officer. Noticing his intentions the woman proceeded to twist the arm of the assailant, and eventually all three hurdled to the ground. It was at this moment when backup arrived and took the assailant into custody, thus preserving both the life of the woman, as well as the police officer. Amazingly this woman’s actions most certainly saved the life of the police officer, but perhaps even the life of the assailant, as had he obtained the officer’s gun and killed him with his weapon, he would have certainly faced the death penalty. What an absolutely incredible video this was to witness on Facebook—especially in light of the concept of placing oneself in between destruction and others. What a powerful video of one removing themselves from the safety and security they experienced and enjoyed to somehow save the life of another. This woman not only stopped her car, but got out of the car to spring into action on behalf of the cop. ARE YOU WILLING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR!

 I am immediately reminded of the parable Jesus told when a man in the crowd attempted to justify himself before both God and man by asking who his neighbor was. Consider the account of Jesus as recorded by the beloved physician Luke in the tenth chapter of the gospel of Luke: “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, he that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:25-37). I am reminded of the words of the prophet Micah from Moresheth as recorded in the sixth chapter of the prophetic book which bears his name. “Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, BUT TO DO JUSTLY, AND TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD?” (Micah 6:6-8). I’m also reminded of two of the Beattitudes which are recorded by Matthew in the fifth chapter of his gospel account of the life and ministry of Jesus—“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” and “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

 It is the merciful who will willingly, deliberately and intentionally place themselves in between certain death and the life of another. It is the peacemaker who will willingly, voluntarily, intentionally, and deliberately place themselves in between judgment and calamity and others. The Samaritan was good—not necessarily because of his external actions alone, but because of the fact that he loved this stranger enough to place himself between death and this man’s life. I asked the question earlier “Are you willing to get out of the car” and I can’t help but get the strong sense that this is the question the Lord is asking of an in this generation. We spend so much of our time attempting to justify ourselves before God and man that we completely neglect and ignore the reality of who our neighbour is. WHEN YOUR NEIGHBOUR IS A COMPLETE STRANGER! I can’t help but think how many times and how often we think of our neighbour only in terms of those whom we are intimately acquainted and associated with—not at all realizing, or even acknowledging the fact that more often than not our neighbours are complete strangers whom we may have never met before. What’s more, is that we display ourselves as neighbours more so to those who are complete and total strangers to us than we do to those whom we are associated and acquainted with. “Greater love hath no man than this; than a man lay down his life for a friend.” These words were spoken by Jesus in the presence of His disciples, yet the apostle Paul would take this a step further by revealing that love is manifested and demonstrated in an even greater sense when one would sacrifice and give of themselves on behalf of completes strangers. WHEN STRANGERS BECOME NEIGHBOURS! WHEN ENEMIES BECOME NEIGHBOURS! The Samaritan had undoubtedly never met this man who was beaten and left fighting for his life, yet he was willing to become a neighbour to one who lie there naked, beaten, bruised, in pain, and on the verge of death. The Samaritan removed himself from the place of comfort and convenience in order that he might place himself between death and the life of this man. REMOVING YOURSELF FROM SAFETY TO PLACE YOURSELF BETWEEN DEATH AND LIFE! REMOVING YOURSELF FROM SECURITY TO PLACE YOURSELF BETWEEN DEATH AND LIFE!

 When considering this recent move back to New England, I have found myself missing where we used to live in New Jersey. I have found myself even missing the bank location I used to work at in Philadelphia. In talking to specific individuals, I came to the realization that what I miss is not necessarily the geographical location, but the comfort and convenience that was associated and connected with it. I believe with all my heart the Lord opened the door to come up to New England, and in the midst of that knowledge, I believe the Lord has called me to a place of discomfort—a place without any comfort or convenience. As I sit here this morning I can’t help but get the strong sense that the Lord has chosen to remove me from comfort in order that I might place myself between death and life. The Lord has chosen to move me from comfort and convenience “for such a time as this” in order that I might become a neighbour to complete and total strangers. The Lord has taken and removed me from the comfort and convenience of New Jersey, and has brought me to a place that was even a desire in my heart, yet He did so not because of me at all. THIS MOVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU! THIS MOVE ISN’T ABOUT YOU AT ALL! THIS MOVE WAS NEVER ABOUT YOU! THIS MOVE HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH OTHERS! THIS MOVE HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THOSE I HAVE CALLED YOU TO AND THOSE I WILL BRING YOU TO! THIS MOVE WILL REQUIRE SACRIFICE AND SELFLESSNESS WITHIN YOUR HEART! This move will require you to give up and even forsake all comfort and convenience in order that you might place yourself between death and life. This move will require you to give up and even forsake all comfort and convenience in order that you might place yourself between calamity and chaos and the lives of others. This move will undoubtedly require you to make up the hedge and stand in the gap before the Lord on behalf of both land and people. Do not think for one minute this move has anything to do with you, for I didn’t bring here up for you—AT ALL. PERIOD!

 GET OUT OF THE CAR! GET OFF THE DONKEY! STANDING IN THE GAP & STANDING IN THE GATE! When I sit here and consider the reality of what is before me, I can’t help but see the prophet Jeremiah as one who stood in the gate to proclaim and declare the word of the Lord, while Ezekiel was one who stood in the gap before God on behalf of the land. The concept of getting out of the car and getting off the donkey will very well bring us into that place where we stand in the gap before the Lord on behalf of the land in order that the Lord might not destroy the land or the people. Getting out of the car and getting off the donkey may very well bring us into that place where we stand in the gate—stand in the gate of the house of the Lord—and proclaim the word of the Lord. I believe with everything inside me the Lord is in this very generation calling men and women to both stand in the gate and stand in the gap. What’s more, is that there may be times when these realities act independent from each other, while at other times these realities might coexist and operate in direct connection with each other. There might be times in our lives when we will be called to stand in the gap before the Lord on behalf of the land, yet not stand in the gate. There might be times when we will be called to stand in the gate, yet standing in the gate won’t necessarily warrant or require us to stand in the gap. In all reality, there is in this generation and in these Last Days a wonderful and powerful call to stand in the gap and to stand in the gate. Through the prophet Ezekiel the Lord declared that He sought for a man to stand in the gap, while to the prophet Jeremiah the Lord instructed him to stand in the gate. It’s worth noting that standing in the gate was not standing in the gate of the city, but standing in the gate of the house of the Lord. STANDING IN THE GAP OF THE WALL(S) and STANDING IN THE GATE OF THE TEMPLE! There are men and women whom the Lord has strategically placed in the gate of the house of the Lord to bring a message of correction and conviction , while there are men and women whom the Lord has strategically placed in the gap(s) of the wall(s) that He might not bring destruction upon the land. The Lord is calling men and women right now to stand in the gap—to stand in the midst of the breach. Such individuals are called to stand in the place of exposure, the place of vulnerability, the place of susceptibility on behalf of others. If the Lord has called you to stand in the gap, He has called you to give of yourself on behalf of others. The Lord has called you to stand in the gap and to expose yourself on behalf of another. EXPOSING YOURSELF ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER! Standing in the gap means that you willingly allow yourself to become vulnerable on behalf of, and even instead of another.

 I am reminded of the account of Hadassah, or as she is commonly known as and referred to in the Scripture as Esther. In the fourth chapter of the Old Testament book of Esther [which by the way is in and of itself interesting, for within Scripture we have two books named after Gentile realities—Esther, which was the Persian name of Hadassah, and Ruth who was a Moabite woman married to one of Naomi’s two sons]. “And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s p[rovinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. For it thou altogether honest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the top of the sceptre” (Esther 4:9-5:2). Please don’t miss the significance of Esther’s words found within her response to Mordecai—“whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death.” When Esther came and appeared before the king she willingly and deliberately put herself in the direct path of both danger and death, as if the king did not extend his golden scepter unto her, she might very well have been put to death. Esther agreed to put herself in between the threat of annihilation and her people to whom the threat was directed. Moreover, Esther put her own self in the path of death as she appeared before the king unannounced and unsummoned. Let us pay close attention to this passage, for it reveals the place the Lord has called many to in this very hour.

 The Lord called Jeremiah to stand in the gate of the Lord’s house and to proclaim a very specific word—a word to “all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord.” WHEN PROPHETS ARE CALLED TO STAND IN THE GATE! WHEN MEN ARE CALLED TO STAND IN THE GAP! The Lord called Jeremiah to stand in the gate of the house of the Lord, for a breach had been made in the house of the Lord—a breach of wickedness, a breach of rebellion, a breach of transgression. The prophet Jeremiah was called to stand in the gate of the house of the Lord to call the men of Judah to the place of amending their ways and their doings. It was the Lord’s desire that men enter into the courts of His Temple, and to enter in through His gates. Notice that from the place of standing in the gate of the house of the Lord, Jeremiah declared this message: “For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.” The prophet stood in the gate of the house of the Lord to call men to the place of repentance before the Lord. The prophet stood in the gate of the house of the Lord for a breach had been made in the house because of men and women who walked after other gods whom they knew not, and then came and stood before the Lord in His house, which is called by His name. Oh that there would be men and women in this generation who would be willing to stand in the gate of the house of the Lord—to stand in the place of the breach that has been created in the house of the Lord. Oh that men and women would have the courage to get out of the car and get off the donkey to stand in the gate, and stand in the gap in this generation. There are breaches in the wall, and there are breaches in the house of the Lord, and the Lord is seeking and looking for those who are willing to position themselves in the place of vulnerability, susceptibility and exposure on behalf of the land, and even on behalf of the house of the Lord. Jeremiah was instructed to stand in the gate in order to preserve the holiness and purity of the house of the Lord. Ezekiel was called to stand in the gap to make up the hedge on behalf of the land that the Lord might not destroy it. The question must be asked: Are you willing to get out of your car and get off your donkey?