ADDRESSING SIN THAT GRIEVES GOD
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles.” Ezra 10:6, ESV
Theme: Believers can and should intercede with fasting and prayer for their families, churches, communities, nations, and the world.
TO CHANGE DIRECTION
Ezra, Chapter 10 describes a huge error the Israelites made and their profound state of brokenness. Tasked by the people with leading them through a season of repentance, Ezra leaves the house of God and withdraws to a private place to mourn. He is so upset that he can’t bring himself to eat or drink anything (Ezra 10:1-6). It was a big problem. They had married into families entrenched in generational sin: Idol worship, child sacrifice, disregard for God and His Law. And while I can’t justify the way they proposed to change direction by divorcing all of the foreign wives, I can suppose that they were so trapped so entrenched in a sinful lifestyle they needed a drastic, nearly impossible turn around if they wanted to return to God. Feels like many of the big problems that surround us today... ones I feel powerless to change.
SERIOUS FASTING
Fasting requires commitment. It is a change of routine, different than those around you, and often it hurts. To be honest, I hesitated for a moment to tackle this topic because I was nervous. In fact, I’d need to – well – fast. I’ve fasted for full days before. The first time I committed to an intentional fast in obedience to God, I thought it would be easy because, in the past, I had forgotten to eat or got busy and ended up skipping a meal. In my experience, fasting with the intent of communion with God, facing my own need and lack, and paying close attention to Him is not the same as skipping a meal accidentally. Where I might not notice my hunger until the afternoon on a frantic day, on a day of fasting, I seem to recognize breakfast time even earlier than usual.
THE PROPHET’S EXAMPLE
Ezra withdrew. Ezra mourned. He didn’t eat. Ezra didn’t even drink water. Ezra mourned over the faithlessness of His people. We can be confident those actions were godly, honorable responses to intentional sin and disobedience. When we also see tremendous errors, intentional sin, disobedience, and faithlessness, we need not be surprised but instead grieved as God is. Whether we see sin in politics, leadership, our city, maybe even our church, or our families, we can and should intercede with fasting and prayer. No one and nothing are beyond redemption by God. We will come to the end of our own power, hope, and creativity, just as Ezra did. We will never find the end of God’s capability to redeem us, even when it appears hopeless.
Make It Personal: What persistent sin causes you grief? Like Ezra, are you overwhelmed by its vastness? Consider prayer and fasting as one way you can intercede on behalf of a community or person who is important to you but seems hopeless. What might that look like for you? What are the things you are worried about that might keep you from taking that step?
Pray: Dear God, I want to have a soft heart that is grieved by persistent sin. I don’t want to look the other way or worse, participate. Yet I know I do this in some areas of my life. Help me to see what sin issues You want me to face--or fight--or both. Help me to consider fasting if I never have before. Help me to return to fasting if I haven’t fasted in a long time. My body is resistant to discomfort. Help me to trust You, even when it doesn’t sound like any fun at all. Thank You for enduring so much more discomfort than I ever will. Give me the strength when I don’t have it. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Read: Ezra 10:1-6; Matthew 6:6, 16-18; Daniel 9:2-3; Luke 2:36-37
Weekly Memory Verse: “And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.’” Ezra 3:11a, ESV