Ezra was devastated when he heard the sad report of rampant sin at every level in the community, starting with its leadership and percolating through the entire population. For years he had carefully studied the Word of God and loved the things of God and the people of God. Along with so many others, Ezra had been in Babylon. But now King Artaxerxes of Persia had sent Ezra back to his homeland to evaluate the situation. He went back to restore spiritual order and to initiate spiritual reforms in and around Jerusalem and eventually return with a report of his work.
It was a long trek on foot – 900 miles or 1448 kilometres. Ezra felt the burden of leading a large crowd of people on the long trip back to Jerusalem. He set aside some days just to focus on prayer – to humble themselves before the Lord and to ask for a safe journey. You get the sense that Ezra took his relationship with God very seriously. How serious am I about my relationship with the Lord?
Sometime after they arrived in Jerusalem, a delegation of leaders met with Ezra with a report.
“Ezra, we have learned that the people of Israel, at every level, have been marrying people of other belief systems and who worship other gods and who engage in detestable religious practises. Yes, even the priests and Levites and other leaders have been at this – in fact, in our humble opinion, they have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”
Although it had been happening in Israel for centuries – in the time of the Judges, and yes, even King Solomon engaged in the practice and many others – yet, to Ezra it was devastating news. He was crushed to hear the report. Inwardly sickened by the news and outwardly shocked, he tore his clothes in a sign of dismay and sadness. Although not guilty of these sins, as a true leader, he identified with the people he was leading. He pulled his hair and grabbed his beard and just sat there in grief until the time of the evening sacrifice. And then, on his knees with his hands spread out to the Lord, he starts:
“O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have
risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens….” You can read the specifics of his prayer, but then he concludes with this: “O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous…behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.” (Ezra 9:6, 15)
Every day we see sin in full swing all around us and yes, at times, within us. Sadly, it seems we can think lightly of it. Is there something in your life or mine that truly is sin and yet, somehow we continue to live with it and think we are moving forward for the Lord? Something that is getting a grip on our heartstrings and is robbing us of our joy in Christ?
Why did Ezra react so strongly to the report of sin? Why was he so sensitive to sin and just how awful sin really is? The answer is found in Ezra chapter seven.
For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. Ezra 7:10
Ezra’s values were synchronized with God’s values – values he came to understand through his deliberate and careful and consistent study of the Word of God. Ezra’s conscience was calibrated to the Word of God – not to the declining standards of the world around him. He took his spiritual life and spiritual responsibilities very seriously.
If I am not reading and responding to the Word of God (my Bible) on a regular basis, I will grow increasingly tolerant of sin and insensitive to how sinful sin is in God’s sight. The more I commune with the Lord with my open Bible, the grosser all sin will become to me.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay
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