BECAUSE of God's gracious hand, the people of God led by Ezra responded to God in prayer and fasting! Praying and fasting are not designed to earn God's favour...rather; it’s a special time to set our focus on God and avail of the opportunity to express our most urgent needs—an appeal for mercy rather than demands. Praying and fasting are rituals that represent a significant spiritual bond between GOD and His people...God's ordained way to connect! Ezra called for prayer and fasting because God is in control and we are not...and by which we declare our helplessness and dependence on God.
Response to a greater crisis (Ez. 8:15-20)
The Levitical Crisis—the battle over indifference. Levites play a crucial role in the worship of God being the only ones allowed by the Law of Moses to perform the sacred rituals that nourish the faith of many. This time no one wanted to go with Ezra. ‘No Levites, no worship gatherings’ seemed to be the code at that time. How would Ezra solve this? Ezra sought the wisdom of men of discernment. Apparently, men and women of discernment are people of prayer and are the first in line to receive wisdom from God. No wonder Ezra sought their help! To be surrounded by praying folks provides spiritual safety...and is our spiritual community! Consider this moment as timely...pause to reflect on this truth... the journey of faith is not travelled solo; not going alone but going along with the many others who call upon the Lord.
The answer of God this time was spontaneous. God sent Sheribiah along with 18 of his sons and many others to help the ministry of the temple!
Look at the pattern and learn a principle in the practice of faith...crisis calls for desperate dependence on God
Desperate dependence on God is expressed in prayer, calling upon the Lord!
God is a prayer-answering God.
Refuge from a greater danger (Ez. 8:21)
Corporate prayer and fasting is ordered. It is noteworthy to realize that there's no pressure to join this call for prayer and fasting, in fact this is already an embedded design among those who are being transformed by grace! The Order to pray and fast was not the reason why they fasted and prayed—the order was accepted because God's gracious hand transformed them into men and women of prayer and discernment.
Ezra was given a task that needed the protection of the King. Remarkably, Ezra called upon God for protection instead of the king’s soldiers. At this point, prayer and fasting were the only guarantees that this danger would turn into an opportunity to witness God's protection of His people. Confidently, we can say that prayer and fasting is the only way to ultimately make a difference among the people who despise it!
Rest from a greater fatigue (Ez. 8:12)
After the long travel, Ezra led the people to rest for three days! It is implied that within these three days, no activities were done. Rest is a blessed opportunity to slow down and observe the rhythm of unforced grace. Eventually, this timely pause from work assaults Workaholism—consciously enjoying an opportune time to check what’s going on inside of us and muster courage to start the journey afresh! Reflect on these nuggets of truth regarding the spirituality of prayer and the relevance of rest:
1. Fatigue affects our faith.
2. Prayer admits we are not in control.
3. Prayer changes things.
4. Prayer changes the one who prays
5. Prayer and Fasting help us engage with evil and be victorious.
We enter into a deeper fellowship with the Almighty through prayer because Of God's gracious hands. Blessings, especially material blessings, are not to be treated as an end; it’s a bonus that points to contentment. Contentment is the real blessing...borrowing from St. Ignatius de Loyola...it helps cultivate an attitude of holy indifference towards power and being powerful, towards having more, towards vengeance and revenge, towards accumulating more; etc.
Because of God's gracious hand on Ezra, he accomplished his task, he knew his place and he trusted his God! Even if Ezra was not a celebrity among our bible heroes, it’s no big deal. Ezra was a man of the word and a man of prayer...neither stopping at crisis nor being stranded on the island of safety; not overwhelmed by the desire to always be in control.
Respond in prayer; take time to fast and see the One whose gracious hand has always been on us!
Thanks for taking time to read what I have written straight from my heart!