I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22:30)

Read: Ezekiel 21:1-22:31, Hebrews 10:1-17, Psalm 108:1-13, Proverbs 27:12 

Relate: It was a field of beans. We aren’t talking about prime real estate. This wasn’t some strategic military checkpoint. It was a field of beans. You know, like: “If you plant it, they will grow”. Sorry about that 90’s movie reference. I couldn’t help myself. Seriously, though, these weren’t even the tasty kind of bean. We are talking about a field of lentils. Is a couple acres of a bland protein source with a healthy dose of fiber for good measure. Is this worth fighting over? Is this worth dying for?

Apparently, yes. The Israelites met a much larger force of Philistines in this field of beans. It didn’t take long for all the outnumbered Hebrews to turn tail and run. All except one. Maybe he was one of those weird people who actually like beans. Maybe he was raised in a family of bean counters, er… planters, and this location brought up some childhood memories. Maybe he is like my little, very big, brother who absolutely refuses to do cardio even if his life depends on it. (Love you, Jeremiah) Whatever the reason, Shammah refused to run. He refused to back down. He stood in that field and killed every Philistine that fell within reach of his sword until the rest of the Israelites noticed he was missing, noticed he was winning, and finally returned to the fight. Shammah’s gap was a field of beans. Where will you choose to stand?

React: In my city less than 1% of 1% of the population is Christian. If I do not stand in the gap for my city there is no one else. It isn’t a huge city. Yes, there’s a couple million people here (and less than a couple hundred Christians) but there are plenty of far larger, more influential places to take a stand, but this is my field of beans. I am not running. Either God’s kingdom will have this victory or I will die on this plot of ground. There are no other options. There will be no gap in my wall. What is your field of beans?

Respond:

Dear God,
Give me the courage to stand. When all others turn tail and run, help me to stand. When my arms grow weary, my eyes grow heavy, and the time seems to drag on slower and slower, help me to stand. When fear and doubt eat away at my confidence, help me to stand. When everyone says this isn’t worth fighting for, help me to stand. When You come to bring me home, find me standing. When others speak at my funeral, let them say, “He died facing forward.” Help me to never back down, never give ground, and never turn tail until the day I hear You say, “Well done.”
Amen