Lessons From EzraSample

Facing the Reality in the Mirror

My wife and I have different opinions on apologies—when and where they are necessary.

Being the one that usually has to offer them more, I tend to see them as necessary. When I have done something that causes a rift, it needs to be fixed. Part of this fixing has to include (in my opinion) an admission that I was wrong. The other party (or parties) deserve to know that I know the way I behaved or the words I said were wrong.

Now, my wife is quick to remind me that the best way to be sorry is to avoid that behavior in the future. I couldn’t agree more. But even when I get better enough at behaving in such a way in the future that I don't need to apologize, I still think I will when it is necessary.

But admissions of guilt are not easy for men. It is difficult to humble ourselves, admit we screwed up, and apologize.

Because, as my wife rightly says, words are not the end of it. If we are truly sorry, it will show in our actions.

It is a skill that every man needs to master.

Ezra knew what it meant to repent. To feel and show sorrow. We can learn a little from him.

When Ezra returned to Jerusalem, he was told about the intermarrying with other peoples that had taken place by those left behind and their descendants during the exile (Ezra 9:1-2).

This was cause for lament on Ezra’s part. The sins that had contributed to the exile in the first place were still plaguing the people.

While there is much to consider about how the rest of the story unfolds, what we see here is the appropriate response to objective guilt.

Ezra spends time in a humble expression of regret and lament before he even utters his humble prayer of confession. When he does pray, he does not hide or minimize. The guilt is objective (because God’s Law was broken, not simply because it was felt), and therefore, so is the prayer.

Ezra has the courage and the humility to confess. He was a man on whom rested the hand of God.

These two things are probably not that disconnected.

May we be men who follow in Ezra’s footsteps, humbling ourselves before the Lord.

Prayer: Thank You, God, that confession to You is always heard. Thank You that there is forgiveness and new chances. Help me avoid the need for confession, but grant me courage and humility to confess when necessary. Amen.

Reflection: Is there something in your life that needs confessing? Ask God for the courage to confess to both the person (if necessary) and God.

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