“While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel—men, women, and children—gathered and wept bitterly with him.” (Ezra 10:1, NLT)
After years of exile in Babylon, Artaxerxes, king of Persia, decreed that any of the people of Israel who desired were free to return their homeland. Ezra, a priest and scribe, led a group of fellow Jews back to Jerusalem. Their journey took four months, but they were finally in the land God had given them long ago.
What Ezra soon discovered grieved him deeply. Many of those living in the land, including priests and leaders, had grown careless. They had disobeyed the Lord’s commandments by marrying women of the idol-worshiping nations around them. The Israelites were no longer a people separated unto God; their distinction was gone. All this greatly troubled Ezra.
EZRA’S CALL TO PRAYER
Ezra did the one thing he knew how to do. In humility and repentance, he fell on his face and cried out to God for his nation. He didn’t pray in a quiet corner somewhere. He lay on the ground in front of the Temple.
“O my God, I am too 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.” (Ezra 9:6, NKJV)
A proclamation was then sent throughout Jerusalem and Judah summonsing the people to come. Men, women, and even children, gathered before the Temple. Although soaked by the rains that fell, the large crowd wept bitterly because of their transgressions. (Read Ezra 10.)
OUR CALL TO PRAYER
When I read about Ezra’s reaction to the people’s unashamed disregard of God’s Law, I began to consider the society in which I live. Am I disturbed, even grieved, by the sin that is so prevalent, and so open, around me today? Do I feel ashamed to lift my face toward God because of the sinful condition of my nation? Am I concerned enough that I will fall on my face before God in intercession? Most importantly, if I do not intercede, who will? Who will pick up the banner of intercessory prayer?
As the people of God, it is our duty to pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness for our nation. Our prayers can become the catalyst to bring forgiveness and healing to our land.
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14, NKJV)
PRAYER POINTS
- Pray for those in positions of leadership. (I Timothy 2:1-2)
- Pray for righteousness to triumph. (Proverbs 14:34)
- Pray for godly sorrow that will lead sinners to repentance (Jeremiah 24:7, II Corinthians 7:10)
- Pray for God’s mercy and blessings to rest upon our land. (Lamentations 3:22)
- Pray for unity. (Matthew 12:25)
Remember, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Our world needs God, and your prayers will make a difference.
Pray humbly. Pray consistently. Pray specifically. Pray fervently.
Devotion by Mary Loudermilk
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