His face was smeared with tears. When he’d been told the news that morning, a sword had pierced his heart. He had torn his clothes, his hair, his beard—appalled that God’s people had done this again.
Now, just after 3 p.m., the time of the evening sacrifice in the temple, Ezra knelt in the dirt in the temple’s courts, his hands outstretched, facedown, pleading with God.
The Israelites had been commanded not to marry members of the surrounding pagan nations (Deuteronomy 7:1-5). Whenever the people had disobeyed this command, the pagan beliefs of the spouse had turned the Israelite heart away from the one true God.
Several decades earlier, Zerubbabel had led the Israelites back to Jerusalem after years of Babylonian captivity. And now they had disobeyed God again! Worst of all, some of the priests had intermarried. They of all people knew what God required. The nation was now unstable, prone to idolatry, and heading for judgment. Israel’s very destiny, as the carriers of blessing to the world, was at stake.
As Ezra pounded the ground in repentant anguish, a crowd was slowly gathering around him. God was answering Ezra’s prayer. The crowd was weeping over their disobedience. Shecaniah spoke up—there was hope for the people, and it would be found in repentance. The disobedient would have to separate from their foreign wives and children. Three months of investigation later, 111 men got their lives right (10:18-44).
Disobedience is serious to God. When we’re disobedient, forgiveness is still available. When dealing with others’ disobedience, our first task is prayer.
Ezra’s heart was broken over the sinful actions of his family of faith. But he didn’t condemn them. Instead, he buried his head in tearful and passionate prayer. God answered, melting the hearts of the offenders and inspiring Shecaniah with a strategy to pursue.
This may be a good blueprint for revival in our own generation. —Sheridan Voysey
bottom line: Prayer precedes changed hearts.
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