Ezra 9:5-15

Ezra 9:5-15

[5] 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,  [6] And said,  O my God,  I am ashamed  and blush  to lift up  my face  to thee, my God:  for our iniquities  are increased  over  our head,  and our trespass  is grown up  unto the heavens.  [7] 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.  [8] And now for a little  space  grace  our God,  to leave  us a remnant to escape,  and to give  us a nail  in his holy  place,  that our God  may lighten  our eyes,  and give  us a little  reviving  in our bondage.  [9] For we were bondmen;  yet our God  hath not forsaken  us in our bondage,  but hath extended  mercy  unto us in the sight  of the kings  of Persia,  to give  us a reviving,  to set up  the house  of our God,  and to repair  the desolations  thereof, and to give  us a wall  in Judah  and in Jerusalem.  [10] And now, O our God,  what shall we say  after  this? for we have forsaken  thy commandments,  [11] Which thou hast commanded  by  thy servants  the prophets,  saying,  The land,  unto which ye go  to possess  it, is an unclean  land  with the filthiness  of the people  of the lands,  with their abominations,  which have filled  it from one end  with their uncleanness.  [12] Now therefore give  not your daughters  unto their sons,  neither take  their daughters  unto your sons,  nor seek  their peace  or their wealth  for  ever:  that ye may be strong,  and eat  the good  of the land,  and leave it for an inheritance  to your children  for ever.  [13] And after  all that is come  upon us for our evil  deeds,  and for our great  trespass,  seeing that thou our God  hast punished  us less  than our iniquities  deserve, and hast given  us such deliverance  as this; [14] Should we again  break  thy commandments,  and join in affinity  with the people  of these abominations?  wouldest not thou be angry  with us till thou hadst consumed  us, so that there should be no remnant  nor escaping?  [15] O LORD  God  of Israel,  thou art righteous:  for we remain  yet escaped,  as it is this day:  behold, we are before  thee in our trespasses:  for we cannot stand  before  thee because of this.

What does Ezra 9:5-15 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The priests presented the evening offering ( Ezra 9:5) between2:30,3:30 p.m. in Jesus" day. [1] This was the traditional time for this offering. Ezra"s prayer contains four primary characteristics: solidarity, confession, readiness to change, and faith in God"s mercy. [2] In his sermonic prayer, Ezra identified with the body of believers, even though he had not personally participated in their sin (cf. Daniel 9:4-19).
"In a time like today in which individuality is emphasized, people cannot always understand this attitude. For the Israelites, and later for the Jews, the Lord contracted a covenant with all the people and not only with individuals. All the people were responsible for the acts of every individual or group (cf. also Judges 19-21)." [3]
We enter into the blessing and discipline of others simply because we are part of the group to which we belong.
Ezra"s posture ( Ezra 9:5) reflected his attitude of humility and submission to God. Israel had departed from God"s revealed will. Ezra confessed this as sin ( Ezra 9:6-7; Ezra 9:10). He also thanked God for His grace to the immigrants ( Ezra 9:8-9). The "peg" ( Ezra 9:8) in view could refer to both the temple [4] and the returned exiles. [5] These were the first small beginnings of a larger establishment in the land that would follow, as the pounding in of a tent peg is the first step in erecting a tent. It was "a foothold."
"This is language from nomadic life, and it refers to a place reached after a long journey where a tent may be pitched." [6]
"A little grace had been granted by God to his people; a small remnant had found its weary way back to its home and driven a single peg into its soil; a solitary ray of light was shining; a faint breath of freedom lightened their slavery." [7]
Ezra summarized the teaching of former prophets in Ezra 9:11-12. Then he reflected on the destiny of the Israelites ( Ezra 9:13-15). He contrasted Israel"s sin and guilt with God"s holiness and righteousness. He made no request or promise. He just confessed the sin of the people and reflected on its significance. This is one of the great prayers God recorded in the Old Testament (cf2Chronicles6; Nehemiah 9; Daniel 9). It illustrates how a faithful individual should respond to the sins of the people among whom he or she lives.