Today's passage recounts the people's corporate confession before God within the governorship of Nehemiah and the priesthood of Ezra. We can see the value of their godly leadership and the genuine nature of the people's confession. Their hearing of the Word of God brings them into true repentance and points out some key lessons. Indeed, the Word brought forth a response, as God promised, and "faith comes by hearing and that by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17)
1. The Israelites' history provided many cycles of God's compassion and human nature. We find this nature in ourselves. When we are in despair, we are quick to call out to God, but we are often spiritually indifferent during good times. When we find His Word too hard to take, we may turn aside or even "shoot the messenger." In short, we, like the Israelites, struggle with the question of kingship. Whom will we serve?
Previously, the Israelites had often exhibited the principles during the time of judges: "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." (Judges 17:6; 21:25) While God had declared Himself their true King, the people had longed for an earthly king and would worship whatever brought them near-term benefits. Please remember that the people had turned away from the One Who led them from Egypt and had guided them through the desert, sensing that Moses had abandoned them: "When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, 'Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.'" (Exodus 32:1)
At a later point, the people specifically demanded a king:
"So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, 'You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.'
"But when they said, 'Give us a king to lead us,' this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: 'Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.'" (1 Samuel 8:5-9)
In today's recorded prayer, we see the people's acknowledgement of the forefather's stubbornness and hardness of heart. At many points, God had warned the people, but they failed to acknowledge Him. Later, He had brought temporary judgments on them, "but in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God." His compassion did not allow Him to completely abandon the wayward people. God's lovingkindness and grace compelled Him to keep loving in spite of the people's sin.
2. True prayer lifts up God's Name. Often, we may find ourselves badgering God for our "wants" in prayer. Instead, true prayer should exalt God's Name and recognize His beauty and majesty. Please remember that a person's name encompassed the entirety of the reputation and the character of the person. The people had prayed: "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." (9:5b,6)
3. Ezra and Nehemiah's leadership points the people to godly principles, while so many before them had drawn the people into greater worldliness. It is important to consider some differences between worldly and godly leadership:
a. Worldly leadership seeks personal gain, while godly leadership seeks to honor God.
b. Worldly leaders wish to exalt themselves, but godly leadership commit themselves to humility and servanthood.
c. Worldly leadership desires to use others, but godly leadership calls others to holiness and accountability. Worldly leaders happily adopt a laissez-faire attitude if it remains in their best interests, but godly leaders care about people enough to challenge them. Here, we see the leaders calling the people to bring their firstfruits of their crops: "We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the LORD each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree." (10:35) These offerings would demonstrate 1) God's faithfulness but 2) the people's commitment to His authority on ongoing basis.
QUESTIONS
1. How have you seen God's compassion poured out in your life?
2. How can you lift up God's Name in your prayer this week?
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