“Spiritual Awakening”
Reading about Ezra can be overwhelming. Here was a great man of God who was totally dedicated to God’s plan, God’s people and God’s holiness in every aspect of life. Moreover, he wanted to encourage everyone else to do the same. Ezra relentlessly sought the Lord, addressed sin head on, and held up the standard of God’s holiness as the only way of life.
In chapter 10, Ezra brought focus to 113 Israelites, including priests, who had married pagan women. This was strictly forbidden by God (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Even though this was only a fraction of the approximate 55,000 who returned to Judah from Babylon, the disobedience to God’s commandment became a source of soul-wrenching grief to Ezra because of the ease with which the people were moved away from worshiping the true God of Israel.
How do our Christian lives compare with Ezra’s? Are we sold out to God’s plan in our lives? Do we grieve for our nation with daily prayer to God? Do we show the courage of Ezra to speak out to our Christian sisters and brothers who are being enticed by worldly temptations? Do we embrace God’s holiness and humble ourselves to the details of his commandments, watchful to confess and repent of our own waywardness?
Ezra was only one man, but because of his true dedication to God and concern for others, God was able to utilize him to lead the way for the last spiritual awakening recorded in the Old Testament. It is good to know that “The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). May God give us courage to speak out for righteousness and ask for healing for our nation, a nation so clearly founded on God’s principles and blessings.
