Isaiah 59:16: “He saw that there was no man, / And wondered that there was no intercessor; / Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; / And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.”

September 22nd, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Someone said that intercession is “speaking a word to God on behalf of another.” God was certainly aware of Israel’s tragic condition, but He “wondered that there was no intercessor.” God was looking for some spiritually discerning person, a prayer warrior, an intercessor, to pray on the nation’s behalf. It wasn’t that God was unable to work without man’s intercession, as the last part of the verse clearly reveals: “His own arm brought salvation for Him.” The Lord Himself, by the intervention of His suffering servant, the Messiah (Isaiah 53:12), changed Israel and the whole world’s condition. But He clearly wants us to be involved in interceding for each other.

One could argue that the role of intercessor is still little understood today. But we do find prayer warriors all over the world practicing what we find in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” We notice that it is the responsibility of God’s people, those who are called by His name, to take up this challenge to intercede and pray for their nation and beyond.

In Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary War, there lived a pastor by the name of Peter Miller. He was greatly loved by everyone in the community, except for one man, who hated him and was well known for his abuse of the minister. It turned out that this man was not only a hater of the church, but a traitor to his country as well. He was taken to Philadelphia, convicted of treason, and sentenced to death. As soon as Miller heard of it, he set out on foot to visit General Washington to intercede for the man’s life. But Washington told him, “I’m sorry that I cannot grant your request for your friend.” “Friend!” Miller cried. “Why, that man is the worst enemy I have in the world!” “What?” the general exclaimed in surprise. “Have you walked sixty miles to save the life of an enemy? That, in my judgment, puts the matter in a different light. I will grant him a pardon for your sake.” The pardon was made out and signed by Washington. Miller proceeded at once on foot to a place fifteen miles distant where the execution was scheduled to take place. He arrived just as the man was being carried to the scaffold. When the man saw Miller hurrying toward the place, he remarked, “There is old Peter Miller. He has walked all the way from Ephrata to have his revenge gratified today by seeing me hung.” But scarcely had he spoken the words before Miller pushed his way through to the condemned man, handing him the pardon that would save his life.

“LORD, we need to be reminded that it was You who came to our rescue when we were far from You. We know people, Father, who are far from You this day. We lift them to Your throne of grace now.”