When we think of intercession, we are most apt to think of Christ and His intercession for us, both as our high priest and as our advocate. This is blessedly true, and how thankful we can be for His work in these two capacities. However, we must not stop here, for God surely shows us in His Word, both by command and example, that He wants us to intercede with Him for one another and also, in some cases, for unbelievers. We read in 1 Timothy 2:1, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” Here we find clearly that supplications and prayers are distinguished from intercessions and that we are given the responsibility of all three, as well as giving of thanks. Thus, intercession involves prayer, but it is more than prayer; it is an entreaty with a view to the reconciliation of two parties who are at odds with one another. In spiritual terms, it is going to God on behalf of another, to plead for him.
Surely there are only two perfect intercessors, and they are clearly mentioned in Scripture — the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We read of Christ that “He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). Of the Holy Spirit we read, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). Thus, we have Christ in heaven for us and the Holy Spirit down here, both interceding with God on our behalf. However, God would have us share His thoughts about His people and be able to intercede for each other. Because of our weakness and infirmities, we all need intercession; also, God calls all of us to be intercessors.
Characteristics of Intercession
The Word of God shows us several characteristics of true intercession, and it is important to remember these. First of all, since we ourselves have “a high priest over the house of God,” we are exhorted to “draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:21-22). We must be willing to draw near to the Lord about the individual; we cannot say, as is our tendency, “It is not my problem.”
Second, we must have the mind of God about the situation, and because of the right to draw near to God, we can have His mind about it. The Holy Spirit makes intercession for the saints “according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:27), and if we are going to intercede effectively for others, we must be in communion with the Lord, in order to have His thoughts about His people.
Third, we read of Christ as our high priest (in Hebrews 7:26) that He is “holy.” We too must be holy in thought and practice, if we are going to function as intercessors with God. Connected with this is the word “harmless,” or guileless. We cannot misrepresent things to God and expect to gain His ear; He knows all things, and He knows if we are dealing deceitfully with Him. Christ was also “separate from sinners.” It is true that He was a friend of publicans and sinners, but never did He engage in anything sinful. To work for God, we too must separate from evil, although interceding for the evildoer.
Fourth, we must have common affections with God about His people. He loves them and wants their blessing; we must be animated with that same love. We cannot harbor unkind thoughts toward them, no matter how they may treat us. As another has said, “Never go to bed with an unkind thought toward anyone in the world, no matter how they treat you!”
Examples of Intercessors
There are many examples of intercessors in the Word of God — Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Job, the Apostle Paul, to name a few. Of these mentioned, Abraham and Moses were particularly characterized by intercession. Abraham interceded on behalf of Lot, as well as on behalf of Abimelech. Moses interceded on Pharaoh’s behalf during the plagues brought upon Egypt, and also for the children of Israel during their 40 years in the wilderness. With both men we find an intimacy with God. When the Lord was about to judge Sodom and Gomorrah, He could say, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” (Gen. 18:17). Of Moses it is recorded, “The Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Ex. 33:11). In Psalm 103:7 we read, “He [the Lord] made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel.” An intercessor is one who walks in the presence of God, knows His mind, and thus has power with Him.
Synchronized Hearts
God tested Moses in his character of intercessor. On several occasions God referred to Israel as “thy people,” and in one situation He even offered to destroy them and make of Moses a great nation. In every case Moses, when he replied to the Lord, referred to them as “Thy people” and interceded for them. Intercession always puts God in His place and puts us in our place. The intercessor wants his heart to be “synchronized” with God’s heart; then he sees a situation as God sees it.
We do see failure in Moses, however, as there is in all of us. There came a point where the burden became so heavy that Moses forgot that it was the Lord’s strength that enabled him to carry on. He complained, “I am not able to bear all this people alone” (Num. 11:14), and while occupied with himself, he was not able to intercede. He forgot that it was God’s grace that was involved from beginning to end and that he was only an instrument. However, this attitude was temporary; Moses was restored and recovered his intercessory character.
Grace and Government
Finally, we must remember that while the intercessor draws on God’s grace in order to intercede, this does not abrogate God’s government. We cannot go to God in intercession for one who has done wrong and ask that there be no consequences. Grace and government are parallel truths; one does not cancel the other. The intercessor pleads the grace of God, but accepts His government.
Moses failed in a more serious way at the end of the wilderness journey, when there was no water and the people “provoked his spirit” (Psa. 106:33). Consequently, he struck the rock with the rod, rather than speaking to it. Also, he called the people rebels, in the heat of his anger. The consequences were serious; both Aaron and Moses died and were not able to go into the land of Canaan. This might seem harsh, but it is a serious thing to misrepresent the grace of God. He loves intercession, and all intercession is based on the grace of His own heart.
D. F. Rule (adapted from an address)