We all need a Shecaniah
It’s a longer passage than I should include here, but please take a moment and click on the link to read Ezra 9:1 – 10:5. Go ahead, I’ll wait here.
Ezra was leading a national revival. He had personally led the return of many Jewish exiles to the destroyed city of Jerusalem. He was trying to restore the people of God. But he learned of a significant sin; an insidious one that had drawn the people of Israel away from God in the past. It broke his heart.
Lesson #1 – If you truly care about the people around you (whether you lead them or not), your heart will broken by the things that separate them from God. We talk a lot about love, but when were you last truly “devastated” by the sins of others?
Lesson #2 – If you truly care about people you will pray for their sins. Did you notice that Ezra didn’t stand up on a soapbox and complain about what they were doing wrong? He didn’t stage a protest. He didn’t write letters to the Jerusalem Post. He took it to God.
Lesson #3 – When you’re in the doldrums, you might need a kick in the butt. The people in Jerusalem came around Ezra and grieved with him. They could have stayed in their little group and whined to each other forever–without accomplishing anything. Shecaniah told Ezra essentially, “You’re right. We’ve messed up. Let’s totally repent, and let’s commit to God to correct the problem. But you’re the leader, so stop whining about it–get up and lead us out of it!”
Do you have a Shecaniah in your life? Is there someone who can tell you honestly, “You’re right that this is a problem, but it’s time for you to stop complaining and lead us out of it”? Feeling the pain and praying about it were good things. But then the time came to get past that and do something about it!
Maybe you do have a Shecaniah in your life. Great! Now…is there someone who needs you to be their Shecaniah?
