Word
of God
Man
does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from
the mouth of God
Matthew
4:4
The
Book of Ezra 8:23
23
So we fasted, and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of
us.
Brethren:
Ezra
has procured Levites to go along with him; but what will that avail,
unless he have God with him? That is therefore his chief care. In all
our ways we must acknowledge God, and in those particularly wherein
we are endeavouring to serve the interest of his kingdom among men.
Ezra does so here. Therefore observe: The stedfast confidence he had
in God and in his gracious protection. He told the king (Read verse
22) what principles he went upon, that those who seek God are safe
under the shadow of his wings, even in their greats dangers, but that
those who forsake him are continually exposed, even when they are
most secure. God’s servants have his power engaged for them; his
enemies have it engaged against them. This Ezra believed with his
heart, and with his mouth made confession of it before the king; and
therefore he was ashamed to ask of the king a convoy, lest thereby he
should give occasion to the king, and those about him, to suspect
either God’s power to help his people or Ezra’s confidence in
that power. Those that trust in God, and triumph in him, will be
ashamed of seeking to the creature for protection, especially of
using any sorry shifts for their own safety, because thereby they
contradict themselves and their own confidence. Not but that those
who depend upon God must use proper means for their preservation, and
they need not be ashamed to do so; but, when the honour of God is
concerned, one would rather expose one’s-self than do any thing to
the prejudice of that, which ought to be dearer to us than our lives.
The
solemn application he made to God in that confidence: He proclaimed a
fast, (Read verse21). No doubt he had himself begged of God direction
in this affair from the first time he had it in his thoughts; but for
public mercies public prayers must be made, that all who are to share
in the comfort of them may join in the request for them. Their
fasting was, To express their humiliation. This he declares to be the
intent and meaning of it. "that we might afflict ourselves
before our God for our sins, and so be qualified for the pardon of
them.’’ When we are entering upon any new condition of life our
care should be to bring none of the guilt of the sins of our former
condition into it. When we are in any imminent peril let us be sure
to make our peace with God, and then we are safe: nothing can do us
any real hurt. To excite their supplications. Prayer was always
joined with religious fasting. Their errand to the throne of grace
was to seek of God the right way, that is, to commit themselves to
the guidance of the divine Providence, to put themselves under the
divine protection, and to beg of God to guide and keep them in their
journey and bring them safely to their journey’s end. They were
strangers in the road, were to march through their enemies’
countries, and had not a pillar of cloud and fire to lead them, as
their fathers had; but they believed that the power and favour of
God, and the ministration of his angels, would be to them instead of
that, and hoped by prayer to obtain divine assistance. Note that all
our concerns about ourselves, our families, and our estates, it is
our wisdom and duty by prayer to commit to God, and leave the care of
with him, (See Philippians. 4:6). The good success of their doing so:
We besought our God by joint-prayer, and he was entreated of us.
They had some comfortable assurance in their own minds that their
prayers were answered, and the event declared it; for never any that
sought God in earnest sought him in vain.
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