Prayer for the People

Ezra 9:1-15 (6 & 15) 
 
What is penance? It is an act of self-abasement, mortification or devotion performed to show sorrow. What is repentance? It is to turn from sin and dedicate oneself, to feel regret or contrition. What is confession? It is a disclosure of one's sins in sacrament of reconciliation, acknowledgement of guilt. Can we pay for our sins? 
 
Ezra prays before the people regarding their disobedience to God by intermarriage with heathens. Previously, Israelite men had been marrying heathen women (Judges 3:5-7). King Solomon had also been guilty of heathen marriage (1 Kings 11:1-8).
 
In verses 1-4: 
This passage of scripture tells who had sinned, not just the common people but the appointed leaders as well. Bear in mind, our leadership privilege, or position, increases our responsibility to others. Although this passage of Scripture is speaking of an intermarriage issue, this was not a racial issue but a spiritual one. Intermarriage led the Jews to adopt heathen practices; immorality and idolatry were now common. People should be spiritually bonded together in order to have an effective and meaningful relationship.
 
A few Israelites had married pagan mates and forgotten about God’s purpose for them. Such relationships cannot have harmony with devotion and compliance to God. Faith may turn into an issue and one companion may need to concede convictions for the purpose of solidarity. Numerous individuals lament this activity later. We should try not to permit passion or emotion to dazzle us to the significance of wedding somebody whom we share spiritual convictions with.
 
Ezra became heavyhearted with what the people had allowed to happen. He was shocked at the transgression of the people. He could have delivered a great speech or formed a committee, but instead he prayed (Exodus 34:11-16, Deuteronomy 7:1-4).

• 2 Corinthians 6:14, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

 
In verses 5-15: 
After hearing of the people’s transgressions, Ezra prayed. He could have said “their iniquities,” but he instead he said, “our iniquities.” Ezra included himself in the prayer, and he recognized that that sin is serious, that no one person sins without affecting others, and that he was not sinless, even though he had not intermarried.

• 2 Chronicles 36:16, But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

 
The sins of the people were confessed in Ezra’s prayer. Despite the fact that he had not trespassed in the manner that his kin had, he related to their transgressions. He communicated disgrace for the wrongdoing, dread of the outcomes, and the craving for the individuals to wake up and atone. The people cried after hearing his prayer. Ezra showed the requirement for a community to be holy around the revamped sanctuary. God’s love and mercy had spared the nation although they had not deserved it. In addition, if God had given the justice the people deserved, they could not stand. (Psalm 106:45; Ezekiel 11:16; Nehemiah 9:33-34; Psalm 130:3; Daniel 9:7-11) 

• Mark 14:38, Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
• Luke 21:36, Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Pray without ceasing.
• James 5:16, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
• 1 Peter 2:9, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
• 1 John 2:15, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
• Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 
Our local churches need a holy community and if we sin, we must turn to God in repentance through prayer. We are to live a separate life from what the world views of living.

• Numbers 16:21, Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
• Joshua 23:12-13, Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.

 
There are numerous stories throughout the Bible that show what Israel had to suffer because of their sin, their failure to follow God with all of their heart. God has been consummately loving and patient towards Israel as He is with us today. However, we should not befuddle God’s patience with His approval. We should be careful with calling out our own way because we may eventually get what we want, but with its painful repercussions.