Devotional: Acknowledging Past Sins Ezra 9

“Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of 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, and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day” (Ezra 9:7, NASB).

Cyrus, king of Persia orders that the exiles from Jerusalem are to be permitted to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of the God of heaven (Ezra 1:1-4). After much opposition from their enemies the temple is completed (6:15). Artaxerxes becomes king in Persia (7:1). He gives Ezra, a scribe (7:6) permission to return to Jerusalem. In chapter 9 Ezra learns that the men of Judah are joining themselves to the people of the land; even marrying foreign women. Ezra is greatly disturbed and he offers prayer to his God.

In his prayer, Ezra confesses the sins of his people. They are not keeping themselves separated from the abominations of the peoples of the land that do not know the ways of the Lord. They are participating with the people in their pagan practices and worship of idol gods. We must take notice that Ezra confesses that the people’s present sins are connected to the sins of their forefathers. Their forefathers had been guilty of the same sins and their sins led to their being exiled to Babylon. Yet, there is hope because God has not abandoned them in their bondage to the king of Persia (9:9).

Let this be a warning to America. Let this be a warning to those who deny that they are guilty of the same sins that their fathers were guilty of. White Americans say that they are not guilty of having slaves. This passage tells us that the laws, policies and discrimination that exist in our country are bonded to the beliefs and practices of their ancestors that owned slaves. Participating in and benefiting from the injustices that exist today is just as wrong as the owning of slaves.

It is time that America acknowledges its past sins. Until America acknowledges it past sins it will continue to participate in practices that are just as harmful to Black people in America today as the harm done by the owners of slaves.

Prayer: I am thankful that there are people in our country that are acknowledging past and present sins. Amen.