Get Up!

Have you ever felt like the condition you are in is such that you just can’t stand in God’s presence? It has happened to me on occasion. A lot of the time it is because of chagrin or regret for something I did or said to someone that was uncalled for. It was a “sin moment” at least that’s what I call them. Additionally, I have been in such condition due to stresses of everyday happenings and instead of acting upon something with dignity and respect I react to it many times foolishly to the point of self- humiliation.
This was one of many situations that Israel found itself. They had abandoned God’s command of intermarriage with various nations and people who took up repugnant practices. God detested this after he had commanded they not do it. So they were acknowledging their disobedience and their great guilt. They acknowledged their wrongdoing; ” O Lord God of Israel, you are just. We come before you in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in your presence.” Ezra 9:15

Ezra the prophet was praying and confessing the sins of the people. He was weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple. As he was doing this he was approached by a large crowd of Israelites; men, women and children and they wept as well confessing their wrongdoings. One of them said to Ezra, ” we’ve been unfaithful to our God…but in spite of that there is hope for Israel. Let us make a covenant with God and we will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the law of God.”

He finally told Ezra, “Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”

And, he did get up and took the necessary action to advise the people what they had to do. As do we. So, when I am “feeling” that I can’t reach out to God or I don’t “feel” God, or I’m so distressed, hurting or just feeling raw and rotten; I get up and call out to God, regardless how I feel.

We must not forget that He is a “God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love.” Nehemiah 9:17 We are so favored and fortunate to have such a God! Blessed be His Holy Name!