Ezra 9:1-9: a reflection

1Now when these things were done, the princes came near to me, saying, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy offspring have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.” 3When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded. 4Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel were assembled to me because of the trespass of the exiles; and I sat confounded until the evening offering. 5At the evening offering I rose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to the LORD my God; 6and I said, “My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens. 7Since the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8Now for a little moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage. 9For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

Ezra is overwhelmed with grief and shame at the sins of the people, and in his prayer he confesses the depth of their guilt: Our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. And yet, in the midst of confessing this great guilt, he sees also God's grace: But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God; our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended his steadfast love, to give us a little reviving. Even amid deserved judgment, God's grace was at work.

Notice what Ezra sees alongside the guilt: God's grace, extended even amid the consequences of sin. The guilt was great, risen to the heavens; and the people still bore the consequences, in bondage. And yet, even there, God's grace was at work: he had not forsaken them in their bondage, but extended his steadfast love, giving them a remnant, a little reviving, a stake in his holy place. Grace was present even in the midst of the judgment they still bore; God had not abandoned them, but was reviving them a little even in their bondage.

That grace, extended even amid the consequences we still bear, is a comfort. When we have sinned, and still bear the consequences, we can feel that God has abandoned us to them, that only judgment remains. But Ezra saw God's grace at work even in the midst of the judgment they still bore; God had not forsaken them, but was reviving them a little even in their bondage. When you are bearing the consequences of your sin, and feel God has abandoned you to them, look, as Ezra looked, for the grace God is extending even there. God does not forsake his people even in the bondage they have brought on themselves; he extends his steadfast love, giving a little reviving even in the midst of consequences still borne. Do not despair, feeling only the judgment; look for God's grace, which is at work even amid the consequences of sin, reviving you a little even in your bondage, as God revived his people even while they still bore the consequences of their guilt.

Lord, Ezra was overwhelmed with grief at the people's sin, and confessed the depth of their guilt: our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted to the heavens. And yet, amid confessing this great guilt, he saw also your grace: for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God; you have not forsaken us in our bondage, but have extended your steadfast love, to give us a little reviving. Show me what Ezra saw alongside the guilt: your grace, extended even amid the consequences of sin. The guilt was great, and the people still bore the consequences, in bondage. And yet, even there, your grace was at work: you had not forsaken them, but extended your steadfast love, giving them a little reviving even in their bondage. Give me the comfort of that grace, extended even amid the consequences I still bear. When I have sinned, and still bear the consequences, I can feel that you have abandoned me to them, that only judgment remains. But Ezra saw your grace at work even in the midst of the judgment they still bore. When I am bearing the consequences of my sin, and feel you have abandoned me, help me look, as Ezra looked, for the grace you are extending even there. You do not forsake your people even in the bondage they have brought on themselves; you extend your steadfast love, giving a little reviving even in the midst of consequences still borne. Keep me from despairing, feeling only the judgment; help me look for your grace, Lord, at work even amid the consequences of sin, reviving me a little even in my bondage. Thank you that your grace reaches me even there.