QT: Thorough confession leads to refreshing forgiveness
Thorough confession leads to refreshing forgiveness
https://www.esv.org/Ezra9:6–7
Week 23: 01/06/2023. Thu
The air after a rain this morning is refreshing. The air is also clear of particles, causing more details to be seen by our eyes.
Ezra's thorough confession on behalf of the community sets the direction right for their return to God.
Ezra 9:6–7 [6] saying: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. [7] From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today. (ESV)
In their past, the sins of a person led to community disaster (e.g. when Achan took the sacred items devoted to God after their victory at Ai—Joshua 7). Even though there are some faithful believers among them, the whole nation experienced exile because of their disobedience.
While we cannot control the minds and actions of others, we can thoroughly examine and confess our sins and shortfalls before God. Rain after a few hot days and nights is refreshing. So would thorough confession and experiencing again the freshness of God's forgiveness and grace as we journey with Him.
