Blameless and Dependent

Now we are being punished because of our wickedness and our great guilt. But we have actually been punished far less than we deserve, for you, our God, have allowed some of us to survive as a remnant. But even so, we are again breaking your commands and intermarrying with people who do these detestable things. Won’t your anger be enough to destroy us, so that even this little remnant no longer survives? O LORD, God of Israel, you are just. We come before you in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in your presence.”

Ezra 9:13-15

On we continue with Ezra’s prayer of repentance on behalf of the exiles. He has recounted the grace given in the exiles’ return. He’s pointed out how connecting heart and soul to those involved in detestable acts – such as child sacrifice and degrading fertility rituals – is complete disobedience to Yahweh, His laws which are for their good, and His fame among those watching.

 

Now Ezra gets down to the nitty gritty: all this disobedience brings on God’s enraged anger. His anaph – nostril-flaring, breathless anger. He knows this disobedience deserves  kalah – annihilation.

And in the Hebrew he acknowledges Covenant Yahweh’s character: He is just – tsaddiq. Completely blameless and in the right. As such, the exiles cannot stand – amad – before His face – paneh – with their guilt al – hovering over – them.

Don’t look now, but Ezra just described the entire human condition. That a God of justice cannot look upon our outright rebellion. We cannot come into His presence; we have no right.

 

This is where we should jump up and down about one of God’s Names: Jehovah Tsidqenu – The LORD our Righteousness.

 

He is our righteousness. Even under the Old Covenant, this is His Name. The Covenant-Maker, Covenant-Keeper is our hope. And under the New Covenant?

God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

He kept that covenant and took it one step further: In Jesus, He took on our unrighteousness – all the way to hell and back – and covered us in His righteousness. Completely blameless in His presence. No more guilt hovering over us.

 

Able to stand – arise, endure, be employed.

Completely dependent on Him.