The picture is that of an ancient city under siege . . . the enemy is just outside the city walls. And he is hammering at the wall protecting the city . . . relentless . . . knowing that to just take out even a small part of the wall is sufficient to get some men on the inside and compromise the city from the inside out. And then it happens . . . first a crack . . . then a crumble . . . and finally a breakthrough. But, before the enemy can enter in through the opening, a warrior from the city covers with his body the broken part of the wall. He places himself in that perilous position . . . prepared to defend that bit of open real estate . . . determined to repel the enemies attack and protect the city. He fills the gap . . . places himself in “the breaking” . . . he stands in the breach.

I’m reading Psalm 106 this morning, and it pretty much doesn’t matter which translation you read, they all talk of Moses as that warrior . . . as the one stepping into perilous position. Moses, the chosen one of God, stood before God in the breach (Psalm 106:23). Moses defended the Israelites. But he wasn’t repelling the attacks of the enemy . . . instead he staved off the wrath of God.

Psalm 106 calls for praise and thanksgiving in remembrance of God’s continual forgiveness for Israel’s sin. Again and again it recounts Israel’s moral and spiritual failings . . . their complacency . . . their rebellion . . . their overt spiritual harlotry. And, again and again, they are reminded of God’s mercy and forgiveness. And one of the accounts recorded is that of the golden calf at Horeb and the people’s worship of the molded image . . . “They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass” (106:20 ESV). And God who declares, “I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images” (Isa. 42:8), was determined to destroy the people for their rebellion and blasphemy.

The wall was breached . . . but from the inside out. Perhaps there was some external enemy force at work seeking to destroy, but the infrastructure was compromised by those who should have gloried in the One who had placed them behind His wall of protection. Instead, the people breached the wall . . . their sin had compromised their protection . . . and God’s holy and just wrath was focused on entering and executing judgment. But then a man of God — a man ordained of Jehovah to deliver His people — stands in the breach. He places Himself in the gap and pleads for the people, seeking to turn away God’s wrath, lest He destroy them. And Moses, that man, is such a beautiful picture of another Mighty Warrior, . . . Jesus, the Son of Man.

O’ precious Jesus . . . the One in Whom the Father delights . . . the Fairest of Ten Thousand . . . King of kings and Lord of lords . . . was the Mighty Warrior of God who determined to stand in the breach for mankind. And, getting a bit more personal, He determined to fill the gap and take up the perilous position for this man. Sent by God to redeem and deliver all those who would come to Him by faith, He willingly placed Himself in that spot where the wrath of God would be poured out. He who knew no sin became sin for me as He stood . . . no, as He hung in the breach and looked out through the ages and, seeing me, cried out, “Father, forgive him for he doesn’t not know what he’s doing” (Luke 23:34).

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever!” (Ps. 106:1)

And the blood shed on that cross two thousand years ago . . . the full payment for redemption secured during those hours when the precious Son of God was forsaken of the Father as He bore my sin . . . is sufficient to cleanse me from all sin — past, present, and future. The breach has been filled forever . . . the work is finished . . . the city is secure . . . the victory is mine through Christ.

“Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ Praise the LORD!” (Ps. 106:48)

Amen! . . . what a glorious day at the breach!!!