Ezra 8:21-23--Fasting and Prayer for Protection

Ezra 8:21-23
English Standard Version
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Fasting and Prayer for Protection
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

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The first order of business after taking account of everyone with them and making sure everyone was with them that should be with them was to order a time of prayer and fasting.  The purpose of this time of prayer and fasting was to pray for protection for them as they travelled the long distance from Babylonia to Jerusalem and Judah.  They were carrying lots of valuable good with them that would have made them targets for thieves and robbers, especially since it does not sound like they had a detachment of guards with them to protect them and their goods.  This is one of the surprising things to me about the king's order, but it sounds like if the king had the faith to trust that God Himself would protect them, and so did Ezra, for they had told the king, "The hand of our God is for good on all who seek Him, and the Power of His wrath is against all who forsake Him."  In other words, the king probably offered protection for them, and they refused because the LORD was able to protect them and bring judgment and wrath on anyone who may try to harm them.  We are told that the LORD listened to them and gave them safe travels and protected all the people and goods along the way.

I'll also mention that calling for corporate fasting and prayer is not as unusual among the Jewish Christians as it is for the Western Christians.  We think of times of ritualistic fasting in the West like Lent where it is a season of fasting.  However, the Christians living in Israel right now have proclaimed a time of fasting and prayer and asked other Christians around the world to join them in prayer for protection from their enemies that surround them and the real threat of nuclear weapons that increases day by day from Iran and its proxies.  They also are praying for unity within the body and that this would be a time when churches would be able to focus on issues within their own church that need disciple that are keeping their congregations from being united, for "Judgement starts in the house of God," and if there is judgment to come, then we as Christians had better make sure God's house is in order.  They are also praying for the safe release of all remaining hostages, but also for the salvation of all those who are now being called their enemies.  Only through the work of the gospel can true and lasting peace come.  If you feel led to join them in fasting and prayer for the next few days, they know that the risk of violence against them increases as Ramadan approaches.  They realize this is a time of spiritual warfare and we need to use the weapons of spiritual warfare that the Lord told us to use--prayer and fasting.


Psalm 122:6-9
English Standard Version
​6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
    “May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls
    and security within your towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions' sake
    I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your good.