“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance… The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us” (KJV, Ez. 8:21-23).
“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava”
Father, I thank You for the many ways You have told me I can seek You. But, unfortunately, I do not avail myself of them as I should. I see that Ezra proclaimed a fast for himself and the people.
However, I also noticed that their fasting was rather unique. Teach me when I should fast. Help me to understand the implications of fasting before You and seeking Your face as a result.
“that we might afflict ourselves”
Next, I am told one of the reasons why Ezra proclaimed a fast. He stated that fasting brought about affliction. Thus, I am made aware that fasting produces humility and contrition. I see the many promises that You make toward the humble. Your Word sets the humble apart in a unique way.
You give grace to the humble and dwell with the lowly. You are for the humble and exalt the humble. Your Word states, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34:18). Teach me to have a broken and contrite spirit before You.
“before our God”
Father, You are God, and it is to You that I come this day. I approach You through the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. I do not have merit of my own. However, in Christ, I approach Your throne boldly. He is my righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. I am holy in Christ and seated in the heavenly places.
Thank You for being a God Who sought me. I was straying like a sheep, but You loved and pursued me in my sin. I love You because You loved me first. Please help me to respond to Your love with apperception for all You have done.
“to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance”
I need Your help. I need You to lead me in the direction I ought to go. Life brings many twists and turns, and I am often thrown off track. I know what Your Word says, but I need wisdom from above to understand how to apply Your Word in the many circumstances of life.
Father, please give me wisdom. I believe You will provide me with wisdom, for James has told me You would. I trust in Your Word and promises this day and believe that You desire to help me when I cry out to You in prayer.
I thank You for Your Word, which is a lamp and light for me. I thank You that when I get confused with what to do, I can read Your Word and get back on track. However, I pray that You would help me sort through situations not clearly addressed in the Bible. Help me to see life with Your eyes and to do what is pleasing in Your sight at all times.
“The hand of our God is upon all them for good”
Father, please place Your hand upon me for good this day. You have been good to me, and I pray for Your goodness to continue. However, Paul has said, “Or despises thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” (Rom. 2:4).
May I never despise Your goodness. Instead, I pray that beholding Your goodness will cause me to repent and turn from sin.
“that seek him”
I know Your hand is for good on the one who seeks You. I pray that my life will be characterized by seeking You. Your Word has made it clear that if I seek You with all my heart, I will find You. Elsewhere, I am told that You reward those who are humble and diligently seek You.
Sometimes I may fool myself into thinking that I am seeking You, but instead, I am just checking my devotion off my list of things to do. Change my heart and cause me to desire to seek You. Rid me of a greater desire to seek what the world seeks. Instead, may I always seek Your kingdom and righteousness first.
“but his power”
You are the Almighty God. You created the heavens and earth by speaking them into existence. There was nothing before You created, but You do not need anything to create something.
You breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life. You brought a mighty flood upon the earth and submerged the world underwater.
You cast fire from heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah. Later, You opened the ground to swallow those who rebelled against Your servant Moses. You set the sun back in motion and destroyed the Assyrians’ troops in a sweeping blow.
You are truly powerful, and when You fight for me, I can march against a troop.
“and his wrath”
You are a God of justice. Your name will be held in high honor. You deserve such honor, and when You do not receive the honor due to Your name, it is nothing short of sinful.
Teach me to trust in You. Teach me to look to You and believe that the Judge of all the earth will do right. May I never fall into the trap of thinking that Your justice is unmerited.
Instead, help me to remember that You are wise and all-knowing and that I am limited in my thinking. Rid me of the pride that tells me I know better than You. You alone are God and will not give Your glory to another. Thank You for being God and upholding justice in the land.
“is against all them that forsake him”
Your power and wrath are against those who forsake You. Your Word clarifies that there is a future judgment and that the one who forsakes You will incur wrath now and in the future. You are a Great King and One Who demands allegiance. You alone are the Creator and are deserving of total obedience.
How could the creation rebel against its Creator? It is sin and Satan Who are at work fueling the fire. Nevertheless, even if all of creation, including the angels of heaven, rebelled against You, You could not be overthrown, for with a word You created and with a word You can destroy.
But I thank You that although You will judge the living and the dead, You do not delight in the death of the wicked. Instead, You sent Your Son into the world not to condemn the world but to save the world through Him.
“So we fasted and besought our God for this”
May I turn to You this day in remembrance that although You are a Just God, You are humble and approachable? When David sinned, He approached You as the God of mercy.
Ezra sought Your face in his imperfections, knowing You are a God of steadfast love, patience, goodness, and grace.
Sometimes I notice that I fall short. When I see my sin, I can grow discouraged with seeking to obey Your Word. However, I read that it is good for my heart to be strengthened by grace.
“and he was intreated of us”
Knowing that when I genuinely seek You, I will find You is a blessing. You are for Your covenant people, and I thank You that in Christ, we have entered into a covenant. Arise for my cause this day, be a shield and strong tower for me. Help me as I approach this day, for I need Your help in the battle of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.