While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. (Ezra 10:1 ESV)

They Worshiped, Wept, and Went Their Way

G. K. Chesterton, a prolific Christian writer of the 20^th century, wrote of the Christian experience: “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” (What's Wrong with the World”, Part 1, Chapter 5, “The Unfinished Temple”). So it has been throughout the ages that God has set an order of worship and service to Him by His people, both Jew and Gentile. His own chosen, the Jewish people, indeed found serving God with a pure and devoted heart difficult. As water takes the path of least resistance they chose the easy (and sensual) path of creating religion through worshiping other gods. God brought the nation of Babylon to discipline them in their continued rebellion. Babylon conquered them and most of those who were not put to the sword were taken away from the land of Israel into a captivity that lasted 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11). But God did bring them back to their land as promised (Jeremiah 29:10).

Those who returned at the end of the captivity rededicated themselves to the Lord and His Law. They worshiped Him, wept over their sins, repented, and went their way rejoicing (Nehemiah 8:6-12). America can take a lesson from these people who wept over their sins and repented.

Our nation is in its greatest crisis since the events leading up to and including the American Civil War. But millions are praying even now that this nation will experience a revival of God's grace. They pray that those seeking meaning and significance in their lives will find it through the regeneration of Christ and His Holy Spirit.

Weeping is not enough. There must be repentance, a turn around and a change of heart. The ultimate remedy cannot come from any political party or organization. We cannot trust in government, social programs, nor any other means for an answer other than God Himself. If there is no repentance then God in His righteous wrath will have no choice but to judge America for our many sins. Worshiping, weeping, and going our way rejoicing in the salvation Christ freely offers to both Jew and Gentile alike (Galatians 2:8-9) is the resolution. Christ is the only answer to preserving our beloved nation. He is enough for our Land. He is its only hope.

Ken