It’s okay to be disappointed when others fall short of the standards God expects His people to meet. Ezra mourned in a traditional way as he demonstrated his disappointment at how the Jews had married pagan women. Still, he eventually ceased mourning to seek God’s presence and solution.
Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God (Ezra 9:5).
The situation that grieved Ezra involved other leaders who had violated God’s clear instructions regarding marriage. Likewise, we should mourn and pray whenever Christians violate God’s clear instructions.
Ezra took the sins of the people personally, and repented and mourned on their behalf before God. His first response wasn’t to accuse the others of the failure through confrontation, but to spend time on his knees to hear God’s heart on the matter. When you see others in sin, your first response should be grief and prayer to discover what God thinks.
Merciful God, remind me to grieve over and pray for those trapped by their sin.
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