Part 32: Gap Moments Part 32: Gap Moments Josh Surratt I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap We weren’t sent with a private message to your master and you; this is public—a message on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV) to everyone within earshot. After all, they’re involved in this as well as you; if you don’t come to terms, they’ll be eating their own turds and drinking their own pee right along WHEN YOU ARE FACING A GAP MOMENT with you. 2 Kings 18:27 (MSG) When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the 1. DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING temple of the Lord. 2 Kings 19:1 (NIV) A message from Hezekiah: “This is a black day, a terrible day—doomsday! Babies poised In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah to be born, No strength to birth them. Maybe God, your God, has been listening to the began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king... He did what was blasphemous speech of the Rabshakeh who was sent by the king of Assyria, his master, to right in the eyes of the Lord... There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, humiliate the living God; maybe God, your God, won’t let him get by with such talk; and either before him or after him. 2 Kings 18:1-5 (NIV) you, maybe you will lift up prayers for what’s left of these people.” 2 Kings 19:3-4 (MSG) • He cleaned out his junk 3. LAY OUT YOUR OBSTACLES BEFORE THE LORD He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites Hezekiah took the letter from the envoy and read it. He went to The Temple of God and had been burning incense to it. 2 Kings 18:4 (NIV) spread it out before God. And Hezekiah prayed—oh, how he prayed! ...You are the one and only God, sovereign over all kingdoms on earth, Maker of heaven, maker of earth. Open • He put his trust in the Lord your ears, God, and listen, open your eyes and look. Look at this letter Sennacherib has Hezekiah put his whole trust in the God of Israel. There was no king quite like him, either sent, a brazen insult to the living God. The facts are true, O God: The kings of Assyria have before or after. He held fast to God—never loosened his grip—and obeyed to the letter laid waste countries and kingdoms. Huge bonfires they made of their gods, their no-gods everything God had commanded Moses. 2 Kings 18:5-6 (MSG) hand-made from wood and stone. But now O God, our God, save us from raw Assyrian power; Make all the kingdoms on earth know that you are God, the one and only God. • He made worship a priority 2 Kings 19:14-19 (MSG) In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. 2 Chronicles 29:3 (NIV) 2. GET A FRESH WORD FOR YOUR SITUATION THIS WEEK’S READING: AUG 16: JOHN 2; 1 CHRON. 10-11; ZECH. 1 AUG 13: JOHN 1:1-18; 1 CHRON. 5-6; ZEPH. 2 AUG 17: JOHN 3:1-21; 1 CHRON. 12; ZECH. 2 AUG 14: JOHN 1:19-34; 1 CHRON. 7-8; ZEPH. 3 AUG 18: JOHN 3:22-36; 1 CHRON. 13-14; ZECH. 3 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all AUG 15: JOHN 1:35-51; 1 CHRON. 9; HAGGAI 1:1-2:23 AUG 19: JOHN 4:1-26; 1 CHRON. 15:1-16:6; ZECH. 4 the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. 2 Kings 18:13 (NIV) For a digital version of the reading plan, visit SEACOAST.ORG/AYEARINTHEWORD.