Ezra 10 While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. 2 And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 3 Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. 4 Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” 5 Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.
Ezra prayed for his people, confessing their sin, as they wept in repentance. But God wants more than a good cry of confession; He wants a covenant renewal to change. that is what this leader says as he also calls on Ezra to combine with his prayers the responsibility to act when they are answered. Often God makes us a part of the solution for the burdens we pray about. Maybe that is why many of us neglect to pray: we don't want to be responsible to act afterwards. Ezra is our positive example of one who prays and then accepts this responsibility. He led in the oath, and then calls the people to publically display their obedience, drawing a line in the sand and time, to complete their vows. Will we pray for our nation? Will we follow up and lead for change?
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