Standing in the Gap

Paul tells us that the first priority of a Christian assembly is prayer. He mentions various forms of prayer, of which one is intercession.

To intercede means literally “to come in between.” The intercessor is one who comes in between God and those who deserve His just wrath and punishment. The intercessor lifts his hands to God and says, “God, these deserve Your judgment; You have every right to smite them; but if You smite them, You will have to smite me first, because I am standing in between You and them.”

In the Old Testament we find various accounts of cities and nations being spared divine judgment through the ministry of an intercessor. We will study some of these examples, but first, let us consider the ministry of intercession in the life of our Lord, Jesus Christ.