FASTING AND PRAYING FOR PROTECTION

PROCLAMATION

“Then I proclaimed a fast … before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods … So we fasted and implored our God for this, and He listened to our entreaty.”  Ezra 8:21-23 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

The Bible Book of Ezra was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Ezra the scribe and priest and historical Bible scholar, according to Jewish tradition.  Ezra began chapter eight listing the genealogy of the men who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem with him. (Ezra 8:1-14)  He gathered together these men, about fifteen hundred of them, and they slept in tents near the reiver for three days.  Ezra noticed that there were no Levites among them so he sent several of the elders to Iddo the chief at Casiphia go get men to serve as ministers in the house of God.  They brought back Sherebiah, the son of Mahli the son of Levi, and his eighteen sons and kinsmen.  They also brought back Hashabiah and Jesshaiah, sons of Merari, and their twenty sons and kinsmen.  This was in addition to two hundred and twenty temple servants whom King David had set aside to attend to the Levites. (Ezra 8:15-20)  Then Ezra proclaimed a fast that the people might fast and pray for safe passage to Jerusalem.  He did not want to ask the king for a band of soldiers to protect them from the enemy because he had already told the king that the hand of God was upon them.  So they fasted and implored God for protection. (Ezra 8:21-23)  Ezra then charged twelve priests to guard the gold and silver and to transport them to the chief priests at Jerusalem.  The priests took the gold and silver and departed for Jerusalem.  The hand of The Lord God was upon them and they arrived safely without being attacked or ambushed.  Upon their arrival there everything was counted and weighted, and recorded. (Ezra 8:24-34)  Then the people celebrated with a burnt offering unto The Lord God of Israel with twelve bullocks, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and a sin offering of twelve he goats. (Ezra 8:35-36)

 

APPLICATION

Man ought to always pray. (Luke 18:1)  There are some things that we have not because we have not asked for them. (James 4:2)  However, for some things prayer alone is not sufficient, it is better to fast and pray. (Matthew 17:21 and Mark 9:29)  The effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)  May we enjoy God’s protection. (Psalm 5:11)