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More Ezra commentaries
Ezra 6:1-12
The temple is completed
Ezra 6:13-22
The temple is dedicated
Ezra 7:1-10
Ezra arrives in the land
Ezra 7:11-28
Ezra gets a letter from the king
Ezra 8:1-23
Heads of families return with Ezra
Ezra 8:24-36
Gifts for the temple
Ezra 9:1-5
Intermarriage with pagans
Ezra 9:6-15
Ezra expressed sorrow in His prayer
Ezra 10:1-9
People confessed their sin to God
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Ezra expressed sorrow in His prayer
Ezra 9:6–15
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
“In times of deep sorrow it is not the people who tell you why you are suffering who are of any use; the people who help you are those who give expression to your state of mind, often they do not speak at all...” (Oswald Chambers). … More
The rest of the chapter contains Ezra’s prayer. It is in its entirety one of confession of sin, with no petition or request of any kind. Although Ezra was not personally guilty of these sins, he identifies himself with his people in his prayer. He acknowledged that all the horrible afflictions which had come upon them as a nation was far less than they deserved (v. 13).
Here is how Ezra prayed for his nation:
It was because of their sin that they had been sent out captive to Babylon (Modern Iraq) (v. 7), but God had been gracious to return them to their land (vv. 8-10). God had judged His people on earth because of sin so they would turn to Him. (II Chron. 6:24-26).
Application
How long has it been since I have wept over the souls of men? Perhaps one of the reasons I don’t see more answers to my prayers is because I don’t get serious enough about the things I am praying for
Ezra 9:6-15 (English Standard Version)
Saying: "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today. But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery. For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem. "And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.' And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? O LORD, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this."
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
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