On Sunday we considered a model prayer of confession found in Ezra chapter nine. The beginning of the chapter sets the stage. Ezra returned from exile to find his people having rebuilt the altar and the temple under Zerubbabel's return. The hearts of the people, however, were needing work. Some of the religious leaders at Jerusalem came to Ezra confessing that they had not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples and their detestable practices as God had commanded.
The first thing we observed was the degree of Ezra's grief over this sin. He tore his clothes (symbolic gesture of mourning) and pulled hair out of his head and his beard. He sat down appalled at the offense. Then, after hours of mourning, he fell down and prayed the prayer of confession we studied.
We noticed that the prayer was littered with plural personal pronouns. In other words, Ezra put himself in the confession. "I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you because OUR sins are higher than our heads and OUR guilt has reached to the heavens." True confession puts sin in God's terms--calls it what He calls it. Ezra went on to recognize that because of this sin the people were suffering consequences. They had been subjected to suffering, and he lists it out. Then we come upon verse 8, and the first big and significant but in the text:
"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."
Those are precious words, as I observe them: but now. This is a window of opportunity occasioned by God's mercy and grace. This is a fertile moment. We're ashamed. We're guilty. But now, God has been gracious. More precious words follow: "He has not deserted us; He has shown us kindness; He has granted us new life."
A second big but begins verse 10. "But now, O our Lord, what can we say after this?" This but marks a turning point in the prayer. At this point Ezra moves to consider God's reconciliation and restoration, and wonders aloud, "Would we again break your commands?"
Confession, when it is genuine, results in grief over sin. It is our taking ownership of our actions, and in brokenness, laying our admission before God. Our hope in confessing is God's faithfulness to His promise to forgive and to cleanse us--removing our sin as far as the east is from the west, as the scriptures teach. Confessing is a means through which He will reconcile us, restore us and refresh our souls in relationship to Him.
Sounds great, doesn't it? David thought so. Give Psalm 32 a read and see for yourself.
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