Ezra: The Lord Helpsናሙና

In the past, Christians have understood the importance of repentance and confession, therefore incorporating a time of confession into the weekly Sunday gathering. But in many churches today – and I would guess in most individual Christian’s prayer lives – there is rarely a time of significant confession of sins, though this should be an integral part of any individual or corporate prayer. 

We’ve already witnessed how appalled Ezra is at the way God’s people have become like the world around them (vv. 3–4). In these verses we also see him repenting. 

Ezra’s repentance is visibly expressed in tearing his clothes (v. 3). When we’re frustrated, we might declare, ‘I’m tearing my hair out.’ We mean it metaphorically. Ezra does it literally.

Ezra’s repentance is public. Others gather around him (v. 4). Ezra falls on his knees with his hands spread out (v. 5), his posture expressing his emotions. 

Ezra’s repentance flows from the Word of God (v. 4). The others who join him also take the Word of the Lord seriously. 

Ezra’s repentance is tied up with the evening sacrifice (vv. 4–5), one of two Old Testament daily sacrifices (Ex. 29:38–43). Morning and evening a lamb was to be offered and the whole animal burnt up. It has been suggested that these daily burnt offerings were not only atonement-making sacrifices but, because the whole animal was given, they were also symbolic of a total rededication to God. So as the priests made this sacrifice on behalf of the nation, it was both a sacrifice for the nation to be atoned for and a sacrifice of their total commitment and rededication to God. 

Those Old Testament sacrifices point us today to the sacrifice of Jesus. At the cross, we know atonement for our sins. That should motivate us to a life of total commitment, daily rededicating our lives to God that we might become living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1–2). That’s what drives Ezra to confession and repentance – that he and the whole nation would be completely dedicated to the Lord in living distinctively from the nations around.

Reflection

Are confession and repentance a regular part of your prayer time? Spend some time confessing now. Thank God for the forgiveness that is freely given in Jesus’ sacrifice. Pray that the cross of Christ would motivate you – and your whole church family – to a life of dedicated, distinctive service to the Lord.