Tuesday, August 26 || HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE BRING REVIVAL!

Honey Drops for Every Soul
Aug 26
2 min read

“... We have been unfaithful to our God ... Now let us make a covenant before our God.” - Ezra 10:2,3

When Ezra arrived in Jerusalem, he was shocked to hear that the people of Israel, including the priests and Levites were guilty of deliberately disobeying the Law of the Lord – in the sense that they had married the heathen women. The first thing he did was to go to the temple of God. He tore his tunic and his cloak, and he even plucked out hair from his head and his beard and sat there till the evening. He fell on his knees with his hands spread out to the Lord and prayed. Ezra’s prayer was like that of Daniel’s. He identified himself with the people and their sins and prayed to God to forgive them. As Ezra prayed and wept at the altar, a very great congregation of men, women and children who had come there were convicted of their sins and they too wept bitterly. (Ezra 10:1) Then Shecaniah from the congregation suggested a plan of action that all those who married foreign women, should send them away from the land. Within three days, all the people gathered before the House of God in spite of the pouring rain. When Ezra made it clear that the mixed marriages should be dissolved, they all agreed and promised to obey. There were more than 100 people who were found guilty. This number was probably less than one percent of the whole Jewish population. But is not little yeast enough to ferment the whole dough? Our God is a holy God and He does not tolerate even a little sin.

Dear friends, the humility of Ezra, the priest, and the cooperation of the obedient people brought about a great revival in Israel.  The sin was purged totally from the land, and the whole community returned to the Lord making a covenant to serve Him wholeheartedly.

PRAYER: Lord, when Ezra saw the unfaithful Israelites, he stood up for their cause before You by humbling himself, pleading for their repentance. The way he conducted himself moved the hearts of the people, which brought a great transformation and revival among them. Help me to follow his example. Amen.

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