Has something ever happened in your life that broke you? Not financially, but rather mentally or emotionally? There have been several moments like that in my life, and I’m guessing in yours as well. The first one was the death of my grandfather back in 2002. Then there was the death of Diana’s cousin, J.D. just a few years ago. The latest one was the death of my brother-in-law, Jeff, almost a year ago. Each of those moments became a defining moment in my life once the initial shock and pain had wore off. While a lot to people want to say that adversity builds character; if you have been a frequent reader of the blog or heard me teach at WBC, you know that I have a different take on that. I don’t believe that adversity builds character; instead, I believe it reveals our character. It also reveals our heart to us, and our desperate need for Jesus.
This is what we see in today’s text in Ezra 9. The captives have returned back to Jerusalem, the Temple has been rebuilt and dedicated. Everything seems to be going ok, but something is off. The nation that had been judged by God for 70 years previously for idolatry, was right back to doing the same things they had been doing before they were carried away into captivity. Nothing had really changed. This broke Ezra’s heart. We read in Ezra 9:5-6, “At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God. and I said, ‘O my God, I am to ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.'” Did you notice what Ezra did as he found out of the sins of his people? He fasted, he prayed, and he wept before God. He didn’t yell at the people or try to teach them through it. He knew that the only One who could help the people was God. He had a right view of God, a right view of himself, and a right view of the people. Ezra goes on to say that God would be right to judge the people again, but this time not leave a remnant. He acknowledged God’s mercy and grace to them, and how they had taken it for granted. Ezra’s prayer in Ezra 9 is one of the most honest prayers in Scripture. There was no attempt to justify what they were doing, or bargain with God. This is how we know that Ezra loved God, loved the people, and was truly broken over sin.
I can’t help but see some parallels between what happened in Jerusalem in Ezra’s day and what is going on in America right now. We have faced God’s judgment, and while there has been some change for a time; it doesn’t take long for things to go back to the way they were before. Since America is not God’s chosen people, He would be within His holiness and righteousness to wipe us out. Yet, in His grace, He continues to strive with us, giving us time to surrender to His grace. I have a few questions that have been running through my mind since reading this text that I want to write here for us to consider. First, Christian, when was the last time you were broken over your sin? Second, when was the last time you were broken over the sins of our nation? Next, when was the last time you truly committed yourself to praying for this nation? For the people to turn from their sin and turn in faith to Jesus? Are we guilty of praying for something for a little while, but then abandoning praying for it? Do we spend more time venting to others and at others about the condition of our nation than we spend in crying out to God to soften hearts and make them receptive to the Gospel? Finally, do we want God to bless us without us having to live according to His Word?
I would submit to each of us, America needs our prayers more than they need our lectures. We can teach the Word of God for as long as we want, as passionate as we want; but if the Spirit of God is not striving with the people, and calling them to repentance, what we say is going to fall on deaf ears. If people are to be saved, it will not be because of my words or your Words. It will be because the sovereign grace of God will have saved them. Maybe, what we need to be doing more of is being like Ezra. We need to get on our knees and on our face before God and pray that He would soften our hearts, and their hearts. May we commit ourselves to daily crying out to God in confession for our sin, our nation’s sins, and for people to surrender to God’s grace and be saved.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin