In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “and at the evening sacrifice I 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”, and in chapter nine and verse seven of Ezra, Ezra said, “since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass” where we read,
Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
The verse reads, “Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day;” Ezra began with the words, “since the days” which means “from the sunrises or sunsets, time period or season” “of our fathers” or “belonging to our, Ezra and the people of Israel's, progenitors, male ancestors and forefathers” “have we been” which means “we, Ezra and the people of Israel, have existed” “in a great trespass” or “within an intense and exceedingly large guiltiness, sin and wrong-doing” “unto this day” which means “till the current time and season”. Ezra told God how he and the people of Israel lived in intense guiltiness and wrong-doing from the ancient time of their forefathers until the present season.
The verse continues, “... and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, ...” Ezra added the words, “and for our iniquities have we” which means “and because of our perversities, depravities and guilt have we, Ezra and the people of Israel”, “our kings” which means “and our, Ezra and the people of Israel's royal rulers and leaders”, “and our priests” or “and our, Ezra and the leaders of Israel's, spiritual spokesmen and leaders”, “been delivered” which means “been given over, ascribed and designated” “into the hand” or “into the power, might and authority” “of the kings” which means “pertaining to the royal rulers and leaders” “of the lands” or “belonging to the countries, territories, regions and districts”, “to the sword” which means “to the knife or sharp cutting instrument”, “to captivity” or “to be exiled and as prisoners”. Ezra shared how he and the people of Israel as well as their royal rulers and spiritual spokesmen were lead into exile because of their perversities and depravities.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Ezra confessed the errors and wrongs committed by himself, the ruling authorities, the spiritual spokesmen and the people of Israel. Ezra took the responsibility and the blame for his and his people's wicked behavior, and in like manner, when we take responsibility for our sins and yield ourselves to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of the world, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the wisdom to pray for the historical and present sins of our nation.
Next time Ezra says, “for a little space grace has been showed from the LORD”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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