And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
(Ezekiel 22:30) ESV
- Hedge What is the hedge?
- Edge The hedge has an edge. Why does the hedge need making up?
- Wedge We need a wedge to fix the hedge.
- Pledge What’s our role?
What is the hedge?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
(Job 3:23) KJV
He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.
(Lamentations 3:7-9) KJV
Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
(Matthew 21:33) KJV
The hedge is our calling, our appointed place, our safety in doing the will of God.
2. Why does the hedge need making up?
Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
(Jeremiah 12:10) KJV
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
(Jeremiah 23:1) KJV
Weak leadership and compromise with unbelievers has broken down the hedge.
3. What about the prophets? Weren’t they standing in the gap?
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
(Luke 13:34) KJV
What about the prophets? Weren’t they standing in the gap? What about Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, wasn’t standing in the gap what they were supposed to be doing?
Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
(Acts 7:52) KJV
The prophets weren’t sent to stand in the gap. Prophets were sent to warn the people that they had a gap. The man who God was looking for to stand in the gap was not a prophet, but a political leader.
4. What’s our role?
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(1 Timothy 2:1-2) KJV
If we aren’t called to stand in the gap as political leaders to fix the hedge, then we are here to warn people who the hedge is broken and that we need political leaders who will fix it.
If the hedge has an edge and we need a wedge to fix the hedge then we must pledge to pray for the wedge that fixes the hedge.
Matty (Headwind) 