Ezra 9:3-5 And when I heard this thing I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonish. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that been carried away, and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness, and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God.
After the return from captivity to Jerusalem under Ezra, many of the people intermarried with the pagan unbelievers in the land. This compromise and mixture drew the people away from pure faith in the Lord. This was seen as a reversion to the same old ways that led to captivity in the first place. This abominable response to God’s Deliverance was reprehensible.
Ezra’s response was to repent for the nation and pray for the people. He tore his clothes and sat in astonishment, exhibiting public penitence, and then took up the posture of public prayer. He led the people in trembling at the word of God. This repentance was deep and widespread.
Ezra’s prayer reflects a good perspective on sin. He recognized: that sin is serious, that no one sins without affecting others, that he was not sinless, and that God’s love and mercy had spared the nation when the people did nothing to deserve it.
This response is a good model for us to follow in our daily prayer life: sincere repentance for sin and true faith that receives Grace. For we daily sin much and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. We take sin seriously so that we take grace even more seriously.