POTB - Prayers of Ezra

READ:

Introduction:

The book of Ezra is a description of the exiles’s return to Jerusalem after 70 years of captivity, the temple’s restoration and the institution of the law during the Persian period.

In the Hebrew canon Ezra and Nehemiah are traditionally joined into one book.

The Book of Ezra was written by Ezra a scribe and a man sold out to God. We will study some of his prayers tonight.

Chapters 1-6 focus on the leadership of Zerubbabel and all his endeavors to go and rebuild Jerusalem.

Chapters 7-10 focus on the leadership of Ezra 60 years after the first return to Israel. Ezra’s job as priest and scribe is to teach the Torah (Law of God) and rebuild the community.

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” (, KJV 1900)

Some have referred to Ezra as the second Moses. His reformation of the Torah is what was being taught when Jesus was on the earth.

This is where the prayers of Ezra are found.

And then the leadership of Nehemiah follows Ezra. (We will look at his prayers next time perhaps.)

Three main prayers of want to look at tonight.

Now Ezra is sent to Jerusalem

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Prayer and Fasting

Prayer and Confession.

1. Prayer of Thanksgiving -

“Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem: And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellers, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.” (, KJV 1900)

The king Artaxerxese has given Ezra his blessing and even support and supplies to go to Jersualem and teach the Law to the people.

Ezra recognizes God’s hand in tis and prays a prayer of thanksgiving.

I want to be more aware of God’s hand in my life and more free with my prayers of thanksgiving to Him.

As far as we know the king was unsaved - and yet Ezra praises God for him.

2. Prayer and Fasting

“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.” (, KJV 1900)

Some ways are only found through prayer and fasting!!!

THE ANSWER = “Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.” (, KJV 1900)

3. Prayer and Confession

A few things to notice:

It is a prayer of faith and confidence in God to undertake for His people.

It is a public confession of guilt

Particular sins (in this case forbidden intermarriage had to be dealt with )

Covenant vows and relationship renewed

I like ot look at methods and postures of prayer. Ezra is by far one of the most extreme and dramatic.

Rent (tore) his garments

fell to his knees

plucked off his hair

sat "astonied” or appalled till time of evening sacrifice.

Takeaways:

Be aware of opportunities to give thanks

Be aware of times to pray for God’s providence and protection

Be aware of times to confess faults failings, & sins. (not only yours but even those of others)