EZRA’S PRAYER. Ezra 9:5-15 Ezra's prayer is one of the three major post-exile prayers. Ezra 9, Nehemiah 9, and Daniel 9 all record these men’s prayers. Ezra’s prayer, combined with his evident anxiety, would have been something the returning exiles had not seen before. There was sorrow for sin and open confession of its seriousness. Sin negatively affected others and clearly impacted Ezra, even though he was not involved in the same wrongdoings.
The public sin of others brings sadness and shame to those who live godly lives. Mockery and accusations of intolerance are often aimed at people who refuse to partake in or accept others' sins. Some individuals find it easy to think sin has no consequences, but a true believer understands the seriousness of sin and our need, as a community, for God's mercy to save us.
The Israelites were guilty and deserved whatever punishment God chose to give. In His mercy, He did not destroy them but dealt with them by seventy years of captivity. Now, another generation had returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple. They returned as a humbled people who had succeeded in rejecting idol worship, but they created another problem. They began to value their interpretation of the law more than the word of God itself. This condition continued and was addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ when He came.
God does not tolerate sin in any form, and He is just in dealing with it. However, God is also love and cares for His people, so, in mercy, He provided a way for Him to be just and still to justify the ungodly. When people trust in Him and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, God considers that the price He paid on our behalf is sufficient to save us. His compassion and grace toward us are sufficient to meet our sinful needs.
When Ezra prayed aloud, his prayer ended at the same time as the evening sacrifice. This likely held significance for those who understood the need for a sinless, innocent substitute for the guilty. On his knees with arms stretched out, those watching Ezra became aware of the evil they had grown accustomed to. Gathered around, listening to his prayer, they were awakened in their consciences. True confession of sin involves understanding God's holiness and having a clear view of the severity of sin. This intercessor saw himself as part of the nation, recognizing that they had sinned together. He understood that their only hope for survival as God's people depended on God's heart of love, grace, and mercy.
Confession involves confronting the root cause of sin. It requires being willing to identify the specific sin, its consequences, and the need to turn away from it. It includes recognizing that God has the right to punish sin and that He acts righteously when He does. An appeal to God's mercy and the reassurance of His promise to forgive, once the sin has been addressed and forsaken by the offender, brings peace to the soul. However, lingering effects often remain and can prevent us from experiencing the joy we desire. Some actions cannot be undone because they have negatively and permanently affected others.
Marriage between believers and unbelievers weakens faith. Ezra understood that Israel could not survive God's wrath. All they could do was pray for His mercy. The remnant felt guilty before God and needed to realize how serious, wicked, and grievous their sins were. God had given them light and a “nail,” a secure place in His dwelling, even though they were His servants. The increase of light brought joy and vitality, and as a nail in God’s house, they had a strong place of safety.
We need the same understanding and sense of God's holiness that Ezra prayed for the Israelites. He granted them grace for a “little space.” The captivity was over, and they had been allowed to return to the promised land. Sadly, they were again walking the path of the ungodly. Even though only a few thousand returned compared to the many who blended into Babylon, God had once more focused His grace on them.
Reflecting on how God has guided us in the past often helps us regain the confidence and peace lost because of sin. Looking back, we are reminded of the path God has led us on. The evidence of divine love and the grace provided for us begins the process of restoring fellowship with God. Through our knowledge of scripture and awareness of both God's actions toward us and the effects of sin, we align ourselves with God's righteous acts. It is wise to pause and "take stock" of who we are, what we have done, and "what doth God require of thee."
Carrying a burden as an intercessor will soon help that person understand the solution to the problems sin causes. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." Correcting what is wrong and what is right can be costly and painful. However, forgiveness and forsaking sin go hand in hand. Obedience to God and receiving His blessings are interconnected. Blessings from God and living a godly life are linked. Prayer and responsive action are also connected.
Ezra personally knew God and had learned from Him what was necessary for God to act as a righteous Judge when people sin. He understood that God had the right to reject them because of His justice. However, because of His mercy, when there is repentance for sin and faith in His divine provision through grace—made real to us by faith—then we can be restored to fellowship and communion with God.
It is when we realize that no matter how small and weak we are, revival is possible. Revival means returning to a sense of life and strength. When vitality and spiritual life have diminished, death is near. When confession and turning away from sin happen, and someone truly returns to the Lord, revival can occur. Because of Christ's sacrifice and God’s abundant grace, He listens and responds to our prayers of remorse, confession, and trust in Him.
It's strange that even after years of learning what God says, His people still listen to worldly voices and lean toward worldly ways. For some reason, spiritual darkness often overcomes God’s light, causing the lessons from scripture to fade and leading us to believe that sin is okay. Of course, we wouldn’t think of robbing a bank or murdering an innocent person, but if something gives us pleasure, we’ll do it if we can. As a result, unjudged sin becomes normal, and we think that if others do it, it’s acceptable for us too, and really, there’s nothing to it.
Great grace has been shown by our patient Lord, allowing us to live. He never condones sin but grants a little space to repent. In the face of temptations, He always provides a way to escape their consequences. However, there will come a time and a method of correction when we break down our spiritual defenses. God has granted us a part in His work to reach this generation. We play a role in spreading the Gospel so others may be blessed with salvation. When we start to let sin’s darkness seem right and choose the path of least resistance, our fellowship with God is broken, and His divine presence feels distant.
The bondage that sin brings is stronger than we realize; its chains are hard to break. Revival is necessary; it's like new life turning us away from the path we're on. God, in His grace, gives us a little space to turn from sin and seek Him. Returning to God begins with returning to His Word; we cannot afford to wait. There are those around who haven't responded to grace but are quick to find fault. Those who testify that they are God’s children, and through the Bible, they are taught. When onlookers see inconsistency, they have just cause to complain. That one moment you were separate, but now you’re together—you're just like one of them.
When we realize something is wrong, it's right for us to confess to God immediately that sin has taken hold. We should ask Him to bless His Word to our hearts and help us return to Him and the right path. In this way, our children and we will understand that we are responsible for doing what we know is right. Fixing what's broken will take time and strong determination to stop and return to God and His ways, because either God or others around us may reject us. Confront the sin directly, and be sure to treat those affected by our wrongs fairly. Trust God completely to do what only He can do, and on our part, we must stay strong.