"And He Was Entreated of Us."

"For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God of this: and he was entreated of us."[Ezra 8:22-23]

The people of Israel fasted to entreat the Lord for protection from the inhabitants of the land. They sought the Lord's face because their iniquities had separated them from their God ("Behold, the Lord's had is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."[Isaiah 59:1-2] ), and God heard the cry of His people, and defended them against their enemies. "If my people, which are called be my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place." [2 Chronicles 7:14-15]

They sought the Lord's face with fervency because it was not acceptable to not be helped by their God. They wrestled with God as Jacob had wrestled with God and they obtained a reward. This reminds me of a passage of Scripture in John: "The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus." [John 12:21] These people sought the Lord's face. Their desire was after God. A pastor once said, "It is as if these people were saying, 'Sir, we would see Jesus else we die.' "

By God's grace, we have been promised that if we seek the Lord's face, He will hear our cry and be attentive unto us. The Lord is very kind. He is faithful who promised. I beg you, dear brethren, to seek the face of our Lord and to ask for His protection against all of the powers of darkness. "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord for He will have mercy upon him and to our God for He will abundantly pardon." Sola Deo Gloria.