Rising Up from Heaviness - Ezra 9:5

In the book of Ezra, Ezra said the spiritual leaders of Israel, “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: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass. And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice”, and in chapter nine and verse five of Ezra, Ezra said, “at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness” where we read,

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,

The verse reads, “And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness;” Ezra began with the words, “and at the evening sacrifice” which means “and during the time of the tribute and oblation performed at dusk or sunset” “I arose up” or “I, Ezra, roused and stood up” “from my heaviness” which means “separate and apart from my, Ezra's, humiliation and ascetic practice of fasting”. Ezra stood up from his humiliation and ascetic practice when the oblation was performed at dusk. 

The verse continues, “and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,” Ezra added the words, “and having rent my garment” which means “and having torn, ripped and split my, Ezra's, clothing” “and my mantle” which means “and my, Ezra's, robe or garment worn over a tunic by men of rank”, “I fell upon my knees” or “I, Ezra, crouched and bowed down on my, Ezra's, physical knees of the legs”, “and spread out my hands” which means “and lay open and stretched out my, Ezra's, physical hands” “unto the LORD my God” or “to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God who is my, Ezra's, Supreme Deity”. Ezra shared how he tore his clothing and his outer robe, bowed upon his knees and stretched out his physical hands to Jehovah his Supreme Deity. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Ezra took action when the afternoon time of worship began. He rose from his seated position, tore his clothing and tunic, bowed upon his knees and stretched out his physical hands toward Jehovah who was his Supreme Deity. Ezra's response was one that we should carefully consider because sin is a violation against God and His law, and we all are guilty. (See Romans 3:23) God sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we humble ourselves, repent of our sins and trust and believe in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a grievance and humility over our own sins and the sins of others who surround us. 

Next time Ezra said, “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you”, 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".