In Isaiah, chapter fifty-nine, verse sixteen, “And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.” The Lord saw the magnitude of Israel’s sins and recognized that there was no intercessor to turn the tide. Then He decided to stretch forth “his arm” to save HIs people, which ultimately happened in the coming of Jesus Christ. Even now, it is Jesus Himself who personally intercedes for us in heaven as in Hebrews seven, verse twenty-five. ” Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
He looks for intercessors on earth to join Him in standing “in the gap” on behalf of the church, which needs revival, and of the lost, who need salvation. “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, as in Ezekiel twenty-two, verse thirty. In the last days, people in society will be lovers of themselves, as in Second Timothy three, verse two.
The corruption among leaders and people was so widespread in Judah that God could not find even one person who would attempt to lead the people back to God. Especially when some churches are so gripped by worldliness and spiritual compromise that God can find no one in the congregation willing to intercede for someone who may be in need, or a person hurting over a situation. All too often, many good people remain silent due to the spirit of fear, or compromise rather than risk becoming fervent intercessors to help change things.