Who Will Stand in the Gap

Who Will Stand in the Gap

It has been said that iconography is a language that helps us understand our past. I believe that it can also help us understand our present, as well as know some part of our future. There are many secrets and mysteries shrouded in the iconography of the Tabernacle. Once they are understood, the Tabernacle’s symbols unravel the mysteries of the bible. Knowledge once hidden, is now revealed; prophecy once sealed, now is opened. The reason: It’s time. This paper will discuss symbolism of atonement, or the covering, and the importance of keeping the covering intact.

When I was newly saved, I would hear my grandmother talk about standing in the gap. We were educated that it was a place where you interceded for a person or persons, making petitions before God on their behalf. While that seemed like a noble cause and a good job to have in the Kingdom, only a few people in our church were allowed to be in this position because evidently the gap was a dangerous place to be, especially if you were not appointed to this position. It was a small, tightly run and closely-knitted group of people, comprised mostly the elders. The young people did a lot of fasting and praying, but the direct spiritual warfare was done mostly by this Gideon’s army.

Unfortunately, even though they knew their job and did it effectively, no one could ever tell me exactly where the gap was, except to say that it was where spiritual warfare took place, that is, you stood between the evil spirits and the person who was being attacked. It was these demon forces that we should fear and unless you were filled with the Holy Ghost and fasted and prayed up, you should not engage in this warfare. Over the years, I have learned that what Gideon’s army was doing was actually two jobs: (1) spiritual warfare: battling evil spirits on behalf of person(s), which battles could involve exorcisms and (2) making atonement for the people against the wrath of God. Surprised? I was too. It is the latter we will discuss here today.

The Tabernacle was a rectangular structure that was 50 cubits long on the East side, 50 cubits long on the West side, 100 cubits long on the North side and 100 cubits long on the South side. Directly around the Tabernacle camped the sons of Levi, the High Priesthood and the “lower” Priesthood. On the East side camped Moses, Aaron and his sons (the High Priesthood) and behind them were the tribes: Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. On the North side camped Merari (the “lower” Priesthood) behind them were the tribes: Dan, Asher and Naphtali. On the West side camped Gershom (the “lower” Priesthood) behind them were the tribes: Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. (Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s sons who was to have to parts. It made up for the Levites being taken into the service of the Priesthood leaving 11 tribes. Joseph’s two parts made the tribes 12 again causing there to be 13 tribes altogether.) On the South side camped Kohath (the “lower” Priesthood) behind them were the tribes: Reuben, Simeon and Gad. You should draw this out filling in the North, South, East, West, the priests and then the other tribes.

The space in between the Tabernacle and the other tribes is where the priesthood camped. This is the “gap.” Notice that there are no demons, evil spirits or devil in this camp. There are only the Hebrews and God in His Tabernacle.

The people needed protection from God so that His wrath would not break out upon them. The Levite priesthood was the covering provided in this gap between the people and God. Because these men were holy and acceptable unto God, they kept back the wrath of God that otherwise would have broken out against the people.

Ezekiel talks about that hedge, that gap, that was compromised. He says God, Himself, looked for a man to “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.” (infra)

Who is the priesthood today? The Church. Are they standing in the gap so that the wrath of God would not break out against the people? You tell me.

Ezekiel 22:30 Who Will Stand in the Gap?

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 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.