Dr. Frank Page, president of our Southern Baptist Convention, has called upon each of us to pray for a spiritual awakening within our denomination.
Danny BurnleyAs we pray, let us be reminded how Zerubbabel led a delegation of some 50,000 back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. It was some 55 years later when Ezra arrived with his delegation in his native land. The temple had been rebuilt, but the walls of the city had not.
Upon his arrival, Ezra discovered that those who were there were in an immoral and idolatrous condition. When the first delegation of Jews returned to the land, they faced discouragement. Time after time, they ran into hurdles. It was through Haggai’s ministry that they were able to overcome them, and with the help of Nehemiah, a layman, the walls and the temple were rebuilt.
The one word that would describe Ezra after his arrival and discovery of the immorality and idolatry would be “overwhelmed”; he was overwhelmed by the sin of his people.
“And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished.
“Then were assembled unto me everyone that trembled at the words of God of Israel, because of the transgressions of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice.
“And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God” (Ezra 9:3-5).
Because Ezra was so overwhelmed by the sin of his people, he tore his clothes and pulled out his hair.
Ezra was so shocked and so concerned over the transgression of those who had been carried away, he assembled unto him those who took the word of God seriously.
There are those who profess to be saved and who profess to have a love for the word of God, yet many never have a Bible, never study the Bible, and the Bible has little or no affect upon their lives whatsoever.
God is love, but he is also a holy God. He will punish sin. Ezra knew this, and that is why he was so troubled. He was so troubled that he sat “until the evening sacrifice” because of their transgression.
What about us? Are we troubled? Do we truly believe the word of God? Do we really obey it?
We are told that Ezra fell upon his knees, and spread out his hands unto the Lord his God. This means that he was holding back nothing from God. He was going to God in prayer with his mind and soul completely open before him.
Let us decide today to do the same in our lives – to become overwhelmed with concern over sin, to assemble around us those who tremble at the word of God, to get alone with God and spend time with him. May we fall upon our knees with outspread hands and hold back nothing from God.