Ezra first carefully considered the problem that faced him, and which was to be the theme of his prayer. He took time to do this, and sought the co-operation of others to the same end. He recorded: "When I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice" (Ezra 9:3-4).

He was deeply moved by the circumstances. As a member of the nation, he shared the disgrace of those who had sinned, and set about preparing his mind to seek his God to make restitution. Having made this initial preparation, and in association with the leaders of the nation, he personally expressed his humiliation and shame for the sin that had been committed, after which he proceeded to seek God's forgiveness. He records: "At the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God, and said, 0 my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens . . . ."

Then carefully, eloquently, movingly, the petition was made that Yahweh would cover the sin of intermarriage with the stranger, and would lead the people into making restitution (Vv. 8-15). He acknowledged that God had "punished them less than their iniquities deserved" (v. 13), and he pleaded for more grace.

And the result? Ezra's prayer brought home to the people the extent of their iniquity. Then, recognising the enormity of their sin, moved by the humiliation and shame expressed in the prayer, the burden of trouble that previously rested heavily upon Ezra's shoulders, was partially lifted by being shared by all the people. "When Ezra prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God ... the people wept very sore. And Shechaniah said, We have trespassed against our God . . ." (Ezra 10:1-2).

This prayer awakened the people to a sense, of their responsibility, and moved them to make restitution before their God.