Ezra: The Lord HelpsSample

The Christian author and speaker, Paul Tripp, warns of the persuasive ‘inner lawyer’ in all of us. (Paul David Tripp, Dangerous Calling, p. 178.) Our inner lawyer is brilliant. He is always able to justify our actions; always making a ‘good’ case for why we’ve done something; always managing to make even the most unacceptable behavior seem reasonable. Our inner lawyer pleads with extenuating circumstances and very good reasons for our actions. When we listen to our inner lawyer, we are left feeling justified by even the most sinful deeds. 

But the fact is there is no justification for sin – we need to hold up our hands. There is no excuse. The inner lawyer might be very good at his job, but even if he pleads a case, we are guilty. 

Biblical confession is a terrific way to helpfully silence the inner lawyer. Ezra does just that at the end of this remarkable prayer. He calls the deeds of God’s people ‘evil’ (v. 13). He admits ‘guilt’ (v. 13). He confesses to having broken God’s commands (v. 14). 

That’s a scary thing to do, leaving you completely vulnerable and without a case to plead … if you’re not a Christian. Sadly, even many of us Christians approach our sin as unbelievers. We worry that an admission of guilt will leave us doomed, with the Lord angry enough to destroy us (v. 14). We know that the Lord would be quite justified in wiping out every one of us (v. 14). We are aware that the Lord would be perfectly righteous, in seeing our guilt, to cast us out of His presence forever (v. 15). So we get our inner lawyer to defend us. But that’s not the Christian way. It’s not the gospel.

Ezra knows that the Lord does not punish His people as their sins deserve (v. 13). Remember Ezra is confessing in the context of the evening sacrifice (9:5) that brings atonement for the people of God. 

As Christians, we know of the perfect, once-and-for-all sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Christ took our guilt. He takes our punishment by being cast out of the Father’s presence. Through His sacrifice, we are acceptable to God. 

Biblical confession is liberating. There’s no need to pretend and no need to hide. Knowing the gospel gives us the freedom to be completely honest with ourselves and with God about our evil deeds and our guilt. Biblical confession renders our inner lawyer redundant and out of our lives.

Reflection

Knowing the gospel, why do you justify yourself? Think about how liberating the gospel is but how enslaving and exhausting self-justification is. Spend time confessing your sin in the context of the liberating forgiveness that is yours in Christ.