Do You Really Think That’s OK?

Article written by Brother Bledsoe

And at the evening sacrifice I (Ezra) 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 You, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
Ezra 9:5-6

This prayer of Ezra is one of the great prayers of the Bible.  It was prompted by the report that the people began to do what God told them not to do when they first entered the land after their deliverance from Egypt.

“The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.”
Ezra 9:1-2

It was a prayer of confession, a prayer for mercy and a prayer for guidance.  If you just surface read this prayer you might be tempted to say, “So what!” Don’t do that but get into the prayer with Ezra.  However, try to feel what he is feeling.

A portion of the people had been allowed to go back to their homeland to rebuild the Temple and now some of them are doing the same things that caused them to go into bondage in the first place.  Ezra is heartbroken.  He tore his garment and fell on his knees and said “O my God I am ashamed and blush (embarrassed) to lift my face to you.”  He said, “Our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up onto the heavens.”  Feel what Ezra felt when you read this prayer.

We should not be shocked by what unbelievers of this world say and do today because they know not the way of truth but we should be, as Ezra was, shocked by what those who call themselves believers do and say.  We should be so embarrassed by it that we blush to lift up our faces to the Lord but we should pray that God will bring them to the place of repentance.

It was not the common people who were sinning in Israel it was the “priests and the Levites” who were “chief in this trespass.”  It was their leaders who were the biggest problem.  Read the entirety of Ezra’s prayer and pray again that God will bring this nation to repentance and revival.  Only a Divine intervention can change this world and a Divine intervention is exactly what we need.  Pray as Ezra prayed, amen and amen.

Pastor Jim Bledose - Prayer ministry and weekly devotion author at Life Church in Phoenix
Brother Bledsoe
Prayer Ministry | Weekly Devotion
Share This Article

Subscribe to receive Weekly Devotion straight to your inbox.

Keep Reading

Weekly Devotion

What Flag Are You Following?

Israel’s twelve tribes each had a flag of its own color and design and the people of that particular tribe would follow its own flag (ensign).  Later the military rank of ensign was the one responsible for carrying the flag of a particular company or platoon. 

Read More »

Juicy Gossip

Has anyone ever drawn you close and whispered in your ear, “Have you heard what so and so did or said?”  Do you remember Minnie Pearl? She had all the “juicy” gossip on everyone in Grinders Switch. 

Read More »

The Well Of Salvation

If you find yourself spiritually parched then why don’t you go again to the “well of salvation” and partake of the water through which you will never thirst again.  Then you will have a song in your heart and will proclaim the goodness of the Lord because He will give you joy beyond measure.

Read More »

More Articles >>

Post Categories

stay informed!

Event updates are sent out weekly on Monday mornings.

* indicates required

Subscribe To Receive Life Church News & Articles

* indicates required
Please select which articles you would like to receive. You may choose more than one!