#71 “Great Intercessor of the Bible”

(Ezra - God Helps)

 

“O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you.

 For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our

guilt has reached to the heavens."

(Ezra 9: 6)

New Living Translation (NLT)

In this lesson we will take a look at Ezra the third of our great biblical intercessors. Ezra was from the linage of Aaron the priest, and in many ways his life mirrored that of Moses; because he was so knowledgeable concerning the law of God.  Ezra was sent by king Darius to Susa to King Artarxerxes for Babylon to get help with supplies for the newly rebuilt temple of God. Ezra found favor with the King and was given everything he needed and then some; along with a letter telling the keepers of the kings treasuries to give Ezra anything he need with no exceptions.  

“Furthermore, you are to take any silver and gold that you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the voluntary offerings of the people and the priests that are presented for the Temple of their God in Jerusalem. ¹⁷ These donations are to be used specifically for the purchase of bulls, rams, male lambs, and the appropriate grain offerings and liquid offerings, all of which will be offered on the altar of the Temple of your God in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ Any silver and gold that is left over may be used in whatever way you and your colleagues feel is the will of your God. ” (Ezra 7:16- 18)

 

 Ezra began  to assemble those who would accompany he and his other companion on their journey and sent out notice to all the Jews in the province to see who would volunteer to join them.  “I assembled the exiles at the Ahava Canal, and we camped there for three days while I went over the lists of the people and the priests who had arrived. I found that not one Levite had volunteered to come along. (Ezra 8:15)

Here I like Ezra was surprised that none of the Spiritual leaders had volunteered to accompany them to work in the temple in Jerusalem.  Perhaps it was because all these people had just newly been freed from slavery and they did not want to leave their homes or perhaps it was some other reason. However I can’t help but recall the scripture which says, “Let the Levites and priest were to lead the people.” (Nehemiah 12:27-29) I believe this was just a precursor of what was awaiting Ezra and his companions upon their arrival in Jerusalem.  After settling in and making sure everything was accounted for among the treasury and artifacts, which they brought with them, they sacrificed unto God burnt offerings and the decrees from the King was presented to highest officers and the governors of the province who then cooperated by supporting the people and the Temple of God.

Jewish leaders came to me and said, “Many of the people of Israel, and even some of the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the other peoples living in the land. They have taken up the detestable practices of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. For the men of Israel have married women from these people and have taken them as wives for their sons. So the holy race has become polluted by these mixed marriages. Worse yet, the leaders and officials have led the way in this outrage.”
 

When I heard this, I tore my cloak and my shirt, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down utterly shocked. Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel came and sat with me because of this outrage committed by the returned exiles. And I sat there utterly appalled until the time of the evening sacrifice. Now Ezra was faced with the reality that the people along with those who were suppose to be leading them the Levites and Priests had all sinned before their God. Ezra knew this alone could cause God to utterly destroy the tribes of Israel, for disobeying his Law given by Moses and the prophets.  Here once again we have the people turning their backs on God and the spiritual leaders doing nothing to stop them in fact they join them.

What did Ezra do? “At the time of the sacrifice, I stood up from where I had sat in mourning with my clothes torn. I fell to my knees and lifted my hands to the Lord my God. I prayed, “O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads; our guilt has reached to the heavens. From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been steeped in sin. That is why we and our kings and our priests have been at the mercy of the pagan kings of the land. We have been killed, captured, robbed, and disgraced, just as we are today.”

Here we see the true strength of the prayer of the intercessor; when prayed deeply and earnestly unto the Lord. It evokes repentance from the people. As Ezra prayed and made confession it was no just pretty words but confession from the heart of the intercessor on behalf of the people for their great sin. Ezra didn’t pray some cutesy prayer but bowed down before God with weeping and his face to the ground. Ezra humbled himself openly before God and the people in behalf of the people who had sinned. “Before a very large assembly of men, women, and children…” (Ezra 9:6-15)   Ezra appealed to God for the sake of this small remnant of survivors, which He had saved out of captivity to carry on the work and name of the Lord. 

The people were so deeply moved by Ezra’s public display of repentance that they were humbled and came repenting before God. “We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel. ³ Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. We will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law of God. Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”  True intercession brings about true repentance. “Then the whole assembly raised their voices and answered, “Yes, you are right; we must do as you say!”

 

Ezra is another example of a true intercessor who know the law and will of God the Father and when confronted with this massive sinful group of people knew how to petition Heaven for intervention on behalf of the souls of the people.  

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we study the life of Ezra we are reminded that we too must love your Law and follow after Your will. We are faced with widespread disobedience in our nation and in our churches. We to like Ezra will not only tear our clothing but rend our hearts and weep bitterly before you on behalf of our nation, our leaders and our churches, that they like these your people in Ezra’s day will turn from their sin and repent before You. Thank you Father we pray in Jesus’ name Amen!!! 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace! 

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