Mourning Over Sin

“At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God.”
– Ezra 9:5

There are many great prayers in Scripture; three, in particular, are found in the ninth chapters of Nehemiah, Daniel, and Ezra. Just like Nehemiah and Daniel, Ezra identified himself with the people. As you read Ezra’s prayer, you notice something significant. He included himself in the iniquities of those already there in Jerusalem.

Think of Ezra’s excitement and joy as he entered the city and saw the Temple. He had finally arrived to fulfill his calling. He was a skilled scribe and God’s chosen vessel to instruct the people in God’s ways. The Lord’s hand was upon him (Ezra 7:6). Not only that, he was given special permission by king Artaxerxes to use his “God-given wisdom” to set things in order (Ezra 7:25-26). Ezra’s authority was seemingly unlimited. Not only did he have man’s permission, more importantly, he also received God’s commission. Ezra could banish people, confiscate their wealth and even order their execution. When the people came and told Ezra about the sin of the leaders, it could have been his first inclination to do just that. But just as you would expect from a humble man of God, he fell astonished. His heart was ripped out from what the people were doing, and he expressed his grief as if he were mourning the dead (Joshua 7:6).

As Ezra began to pray, he fell to his knees and lifted his hands. It was complete surrender to the Lord, a place of vulnerability. When we raise our hands in prayer and worship, we feel vulnerable. It is not always comfortable, yet it is a necessary action that displays a vulnerable heart. And here is Ezra, just surrendered and at a loss. When I read this story, I can visualize Ezra’s position and sense his heartache. It makes me wonder why we, as the church, do not display this more. As we look around at a compromising church, it should cause us to sit astonished and mourn. We should fast and pray and seek the Lord for His direction, just as we see done here.

Although Ezra had just arrived, he included himself in the iniquities of the rest of the people. This is a sign of humility. When you walk with the Lord in humility, you can hear from God. You cannot hear from God when you are full of yourself. Israel was one covenant nation, and the sins of one leavens the entire lump. This is the same principle that applies to the local congregation, and unless sin is dealt with, everyone may become defiled (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). May we learn to humble ourselves, mourn over our sins, lift our prayers and praises to God, and once again hear Him speak to our hearts!