What does Psalm 106:23 teach about the power of prayer in crisis? Setting the Scene Psalm 106 recounts Israel’s repeated rebellions and the Lord’s faithful mercy. Verse 23 zooms in on the golden-calf episode (Exodus 32), when God’s wrath was poised to consume the nation. Reading Psalm 106:23 “So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to turn His wrath away from destroying them.” What Crisis Was Israel Facing? • A direct violation of the first two commandments (Exodus 32:1–6) • God’s announced intent: “Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them” (Exodus 32:10) • Humanly speaking, total annihilation How Moses Responded • He “stood before Him in the breach” (Psalm 106:23) • He appealed to God’s character, promises, and glory (Exodus 32:11–13) • He refused to accept destruction as inevitable Lessons on the Power of Prayer in Crisis • Prayer can stay divine judgment. God “relented from the disaster He had threatened” (Exodus 32:14). • One person’s intercession can shelter many: “Moses His chosen one” represented the entire nation. • God invites believers to partner with Him: “I searched for a man among them to build the wall and stand before Me in the gap” (Ezekiel 22:30). • Earnest, righteous prayer is effective: “The prayer of a righteous man has great power and produces results” (James 5:16). • Crises reveal God’s desire to show mercy; prayer releases that mercy. Portrait of an Effective Intercessor • Knows God’s Word and appeals to His promises (Exodus 32:13; Numbers 14:17–19) • Stands “before Him,” prioritizing God’s presence over human solutions • Pleads for God’s glory above personal safety or reputation (Exodus 32:12) • Perseveres even when the situation looks hopeless (Deuteronomy 9:25–29) • Willing to sacrifice self for others (Exodus 32:32) Encouragement for Today When national, church, or personal crises loom, Psalm 106:23 reminds us that God listens to those who step into the breach. As we cling to His promises and intercede with humility and boldness, He still turns wrath into mercy, disaster into deliverance, and crisis into testimony. |
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