“Now For a Little Space”

Ezra 9

Here we find the cry from the prophet of God who along with his people have lived in bondage. Due to their disobedience to God they have suffered hundreds of years of bondage. Yet, here in verse 8 we find God extending grace and giving the people a little space. Eighty years in the Holy Land seemed like a short time compared with the centuries of sufferings under the Assyrians and Babylonians. God not only extends a little space but he places a nail in His holy place and gives them a little reviving in their bondage.

Don’t we know such a bondage as well? All our lives even after salvation we live with the bondage of our sinful flesh. We daily desire to live holy yet we do things that shame the name of God. But, just as with the Israelites here God will extend us a little space of reviving in our bondage. How can we obtain such a reviving? I think of revival meetings, cottage prayer meetings, personal nights in prayer, etc down through the years where God has given His people such a renewing that although their problem wasn’t gone the load was lightened in such a way they could carry on with a fresh strength. In order to personally experience this we must be steadfast in prayer, and hunger to linger in the presence of God. Are you seeking a little reviving in your bondage or have you settled for living defeated under the load?