What Is The Hedge?

Elder Culver's Daily Devotion for March 6, 2004

"Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord" (Ezekiel 13:5).

The protecting hand of God is referred to in a number of scriptural passages as a hedge. The hedge serves as a fence or wall to protect that which it surrounds.

When the Lord told Satan about the uprightness of Job, Satan responded: "Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?" (Job 1:10).

Here we find God's special protection and blessings described as a hedge. In this case, the Lord removed a portion of the hedge to try Job and to ultimately bring greater blessings to him. "Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy" (James 5:11).

Isaiah 5:1-7 compares Judah and Jerusalem to a vineyard the Lord planted, dressed and protected with a hedge. Due to the great sins of omission (not bringing forth good grapes) and the sins of commission (bringing forth wild grapes) the Lord said He would "take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up..." (Isaiah 5:5).

Ezekiel 13:5 and 22:30 show a situation where part of the hedge protecting God's people has been taken away. God's continual special blessings upon His children in this present world are greatly conditional upon their obedience to His word. In all aspects of their lives, they must largely conform to the law of the Lord. Truth and righteousness must be a hedge about them. To the extent these virtues are neglected, a gap is made in the hedge.

Unless someone stands in these gaps and maintains the hedge, the Lord will come in judgment. When the Lord looks today and tomorrow, will he find you and me stand- ing in the gap and making up the hedge? Perhaps we need to examine in more detail what makes up this hedge and find the places where the gaps exist. If we are unable to locate where the gaps appear, we will be unable to stand there. Remember, the Lord said, "I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none" (Ezekiel 22:30).

Elder Wayne Crocker