Expository Commentary on the Book of Ezra – Lesson 19.
Just for your thoughts.
Expository Commentary on the Book of Ezra – Lesson 19.
For the revival of the Church today, one of the most important books in the Old Testament that we must study is the Book of Ezra.
Although the Bible does not explicitly state that Ezra himself wrote this book, it has traditionally been accepted that Ezra is its author.
Likewise, many biblical scholars believe that the books of Nehemiah and Chronicles are also associated with Ezra (though it should be noted that there is no absolute proof for this).
In ancient Jewish tradition, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were considered as a single unified work.
The Book of Ezra can be divided into two main sections:
Chapters 1–6
These chapters describe the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.
Chapters 7–10
These chapters focus on Ezra’s journey to Jerusalem, his faith in bringing the temple treasures safely, and the spiritual reformation among the people.
Ezra traveled approximately 1400–1600 kilometers over a period of about four months. Without any military protection, he trusted fully in the Lord and safely brought the treasures given by the king to Jerusalem. This demonstrates the strength of his faith.
Furthermore, Ezra took seriously the sin of the Israelites intermingling with foreign peoples and called them back to a life of holiness.
Ezra’s Prayer – A Noble Model
The most remarkable portion of this book is the confessional prayer found in Ezra chapter 9.
Deeply grieved by the sins of his people, Ezra expresses his sorrow:
“I tore my garment and my cloak, and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled.” (Ezra 9:3)
In his prayer, he says:
“Our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.”
The greatest strength of this prayer is that Ezra identified himself with the sins of the people. He confessed their sins as if they were his own and pleaded before God on their behalf.
Comparison with Other Confessional Prayers
Such confessional prayers were offered by only a few:
Daniel (Daniel 9) → Prayed based on prophecy for the end of the exile
Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1 & 9) → Prayed in light of the covenant and the condition of the people
Ezra (Ezra 9) → Prayed in response to immediate moral failure, with deep repentance
A Lesson for Today’s Church
Today, instead of blaming others for the sins within the Church, we must accept them as our own and pray.
God delights in prayers that are humble, sincere, and full of repentance.
Prayer that is merely emotional or filled with accusation will not bring transformation.
Ezra – More Than a Teacher of the Law
Ezra should not be viewed merely as a teacher of the Law.
He was one who:
Studied the Word of God diligently
Lived according to what he learned
Taught what he practiced
Demonstrated his teaching through action
His life became the foundation for a spiritual revival.
Conclusion
*Every line of Ezra’s prayer carries deep spiritual meaning.
If we study this book* deeply, it will surely become a
foundation for revival in the Church.
What is urgently needed today is: Scholars like Ezra and prayers of true repentance.