Read Ezra 9 – 10
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, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Ezra 9:5-6 KJV
After arriving in Jerusalem expecting the best of circumstances, Ezra learned instead that sin was widespread among the people, the princes, and even the priests. The sin was a lack of personal separation. During the fifty years they had been back in the land many had intermarried with the unbelievers of the land. This was the very sin that destroyed the Temple and took them away into Captivity. Ezra was shocked and moved to a passionate prayer. It is interesting how he did not pray. He did not pray pointing his finger at the sinners; instead he prayed identifying with them. Although he had not been there and was not personally guilty, their sin was his sin; they were all in it together. We are all sinners in need of God’s mercy, and that is how we need to treat each other when we fall. As a result of his prayer, God gripped their hearts, they confessed their sin, and dealt with it.
Lord, it is hard enough to accept responsibility for sin when we are guilty of it, let alone do what Ezra did and accept responsibility when we have had no part in it. Ezra shows Your preparation in his life. I want to be like that. Help me be personally separate from sin but identify with the sinner that I might be an instrument of Your righteousness.
