Psalms 94:16 (ESV)
Who rises up for me against the wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers?
Psalm 94 is a liturgical song, probably used in corporate worship. The entire song is about God’s justice against the wicked and His refuge for the believer. In the above lines we read that God, in His vengeance upon those who forsake Him, is looking for someone to stand up for Him and to stand against those who are wicked. This is not a passive stance, however. This is an implied position one takes “against” the wicked and evildoers. God is calling for someone to stand in the gap. He has done this before. Through the prophet Ezekiel God called out:
Ezekiel 22:29-31 (ESV)
The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD.”
The same was true for Isaiah. When God needed someone to go and stand for Him, Isaiah stated:
Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)
Isaiah's Commission from the Lord
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
And, in case you want to dismiss these calls because they are Old Testament oriented, note what Jesus told the disciples to pray for regarding the need for people to go fourth to declare His message:
Matthew 9:36-38 (ESV)
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
God looked for someone to stand against the wicked in the Old and wants someone to stand with Him in the New. If you live your live for God in today’s society to live for Christ you will be standing against the world’s philosophy. When we stand for something we always are standing against something else.
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