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A powerful victory is found here in Chapter 10 with humility and repentance. In fact, the whole event takes place after Ezra’s intense act of grief. Notice that what spoke to the people in this particular situation was not condemnation and judgment. The key attribute was authentic sorrow on Ezra’s part.
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
2 Corinthians 7:10 NASB
What is sorrow that is according to the will of God? It’s a condition of spiritual bankruptcy that can only happen through to the Holy Spirit. Ezra was a Godly man filled with the Spirit and his heart burned with conviction over the people’s sins.
“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
Ezekiel 36:27 NASB
Through the Holy Spirit, true repentance draws us to a place of anguish over breaking God’s standard. It’s a supernatural burden that’s so heavy that we cannot rest until we come before God in genuine confession. Contrastly, human remorse has no eternal value and is incapable of producing righteousness before God. In this way, it does not focus on God’s standard, but rather, on one’s self. Sorrow of the world is damaged pride, embarrassment, and disgrace that’s viewed as a “mistake” to be quickly swept under the rug. It seems like we see and experience this all too often.
Consequently, we must remember that repentance is not a one-time event. All of us who are believers through grace by faith have gone through the process of repentance. However, I am reminded of just how often the Spirit continues to chisel away at our lives to shape us into imitators of Christ. Let us take Ezra’s example seriously and pray for a soft heart that hears the Holy Spirit as He brings Godly sorrow to the forefront of our lives.