Day 29 - Ezra 9:5

A Fasted Journey for Spiritual Renewal

Day 29

“And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,” -Ezra 9:5

Ezra was mentioned back on Day 3. That fast was to humble themselves before the Lord and pray for safe journey for all who were about to embark on a long, dangerous road back to their own land. At this point, they had safely completed the nearly 900 mile journey. Talk about a hike. Now, roughly five months in to Ezra being in Judah, he is alerted by some of the other leaders of some deep sin of the people.

Like Daniel and Nehemiah in the previous couple of days, Ezra also knew why this was so problematic. So, he tore his clothes, pulled hair from his beard and head, and then engaged in fasted prayer. At the evening sacrifice, he also went to his knees and spread his hands out to the Lord. This showed that he was throwing himself on the mercy of God.

Like other Biblical accounts of this type of fasted prayer, Ezra knew that the nation was guilty so he begged before the Lord. There was no excuse for the sin of the people. Ezra confessed and repented of the sin, even though he was innocent. He recognized the shame and disgrace it brought. Ezra further understood that the nation stood together under the covenant and their blatant sin was a breach of their responsibility to God.

Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries and had similar prayers to each other. All though Daniel came about a century earlier, his prayer too, was very similar. All three of these godly men recognized the treason of their people. All three humbled themselves before the Lord and prayed with fasting and other outward actions to repent for their nation.

Ezra’s prayer, like the other two, is another wonderful example of humble prayer to God on behalf of a people. Ezra asked no specific request of God. He simply offered himself, and his nation, up to God’s mercy. Ezra’s prayer (Ezra 9:6-15) has some similar elements as we have recently seen too. He recognized some of God’s spectacular attributes like His grace, kindness, anger, righteousness and justice to name a few. Ezra was asking God to bestow His hesed for His covenant people, even though they yet again had sinned gravely against His commands.

We must all pray prayers like Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel on behalf of the wicked sins of our own nation. As the king in Nineveh said, after calling for all people and beasts to fast and repent, “Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

“If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the Lord, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’” -Jeremiah 18:7-11

I am not a medical professional. This journal is about my spiritual path and about that which the Lord has placed on me. This is not medical advice, nor was this fast done for any medical purpose. If you have a medical interest, seek medical advice. If you have particular health concerns, seek medical advice and/or conduct your own research. Any fasting advice, effects, realizations or anything else related to my fast come from my personal reflection and experience. If you are considering fasting, consulting with a healthcare provider may be appropriate for you.