Isaiah 62:6-7 – In need of intercessors

In Isaiah 62:6-7 we learn of the importance of watchmen whom God would raise to guard the wall of Jerusalem. In the context of the church, these watchmen are the intercessors. They play a vital role in the life of the church. Like watchmen or sentries raised to station at the wall of the city of Jerusalem to guard it, intercessors are raised in the church to guard and pray for what's happening in the church.

God in His love for the church will place spiritual watchmen, people who love to pray, to keep guard over the church. They are people who will pray day and night and would not keep silent. These intercessors will be alert to what is going on and will not cease praying for the church till a revival comes. Oh, how we need such intercessors! God is raising us to be intercessors for the church. We are told in the book of Hebrews that Jesus lives to make intercession for us. He is ever before the Father as our advocate pleading on our behalf. We are called to emulate Him to pray and not to faint. In Ezekiel 22:30, God said, “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land so that I would not destroy it….”

Here we are reminded of the parable Jesus told in Luke 11, concerning the persistent friend who would not stop seeking the help of his neighbor till he got what he needed. This man had a friend who came from a distance and he found that he ran out of bread to entertain his guest. So he went to his neighbor's house seeking to borrow some. But the neighbor was asleep already since it was midnight. Refusing to take no for an answer, he kept knocking till the neighbor got up to give him what he needed. The purpose of the parable was to teach us to pray boldly and persistently. Unlike the neighbor in the parable, our God will never be disturbed when we seek Him in prayer. His invitation is for us to pray and don’t stop praying, to seek and keep on seeking, and when we knock at His door, don’t stop knocking. For to everyone who prays He will answer, and everyone who seeks, will find and everyone who knocks on His door, He shall open it.  

We are called to be intercessors for the church. Without God, it is impossible to see the accomplishment of His plan for the church. Without people who are concerned enough to keep the church constantly in prayer, the work of God will stagnate and not progress as it should. So we must be the people who will stand in the gap and intercede. In prayer, the resources of heaven are made available to us for the advancement of God’s Kingdom and work. Let us not neglect the call to pray, especially in this turbulent time. And we must not stop praying till the light shines through and a revival breakout. God will bring it about when we do not stop praying. What a privilege to be part of God’s mighty work!