I'm slowly (very very slowly) trying to read through the Bible in my morning quiet times. Yesterday I read Ezra 9 and underlined a big portion of the Scripture. I realize that these verses are used in a different context in the Bible, but think about how we could apply them to our own lives today, here in the world we live in. Oh to have the humility & awareness of our sins!
Ezra 9:6, 8, 9b, 10-12, 13b & 15a
"O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.
But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage.
God has not deserted us in our bondage...He has granted us new life...He has given us a wall of protection.
But now, O God, what can we say after this? For we have disregarded the commands you gave through your servants and prophets when you said: "The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to another. Therefore do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance."
and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have deserved and have given us a remnant like this.
O Lord, God of Israel, you are righteous!"
10 years ago
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