Ezra's prayer 9:5-15

The priests presented the evening offering (v. 5) between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Jesus' day.¹³⁰Ezra's prayer contains four primary characteristics: solidarity, confession, readiness to change, and faith in God's mercy.¹³¹

In his sermonic prayer Ezra identified himself with the body of believers even though he had not personally participated in their sin (cf. Dan. 9:4-19).

"In a time like today in which individuality is emphasized, people cannot always understand this attitude. For the Israelites, and later for the Jews, the Lord contracted a covenant with all the people and not only with individuals. All the people were responsible for the acts of every individual or group (cf. also Judg. 19-21)."¹³²

We enter into the blessing and discipline of others simply because we are part of the group to which we belong. Ezra's posture (v. 5) reflected his attitude of humility and submission to God.

Israel had departed from God's revealed will. Ezra confessed this as sin (vv. 6-7, 10). He also thanked God for His grace to the immigrants (vv. 8-9). The "peg"(v. 8) in view could refer to both the temple¹³³and the returned exiles. These were the first small beginnings of larger establishment in the land that would follow, as the pounding in of a tent peg is the first step in erecting a tent. It was "a foothold."

"This is language from nomadic life, and it refers to a place reached after a long journey where a tent may be pitched."¹³⁴

"A little grace had been granted by God to his people; a small remnant had found its weary way back to its home and driven a single peg into its soil; a solitary ray of light was shining; a faint breath of freedom lightened their slavery."¹³⁵

Ezra summarized the teaching of former prophets in verses 11-12. Then he reflected on the destiny of the Israelites (vv. 13-15). He contrasted Israel's sin and guilt with God's holiness and righteousness. He made no request or promise. He just confessed the sin of the people and reflected on its significance.

This is one of the great prayers God recorded in the Old Testament (cf. 2 Chron. 6; Neh. 9; Dan. 9). It illustrates how a faithful individual should respond to the sins of the people among whom he or she lives.