Shepherd's Corner (November 12th, 2025)
- Brian Lee
- Nov 12
- 3 min read
Building Up a Praying Community (#4): The Hand of God in Our Journey
“So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.” Ezra 8:23 (ESV)
(Based on Ezra 8:1–20, Tuesday's Reading and Meditation)
When Ezra gathered the returning exiles by the river Ahava, he realized something troubling. There were no Levites among them! The journey back to Jerusalem was a sacred calling to restore true worship. Yet those who were set apart to serve in God’s house were not yet answering the call. So, what did Ezra do? He did not panic or despair. Ezra paused, prayed, and did what he could to restore the worship. In response, God moved the hearts of faithful men to come and serve.
This passage is more than a historical footnote. It reveals the hidden hand of God guiding His people, even through our oversight and lack. Three times in this chapter, Ezra confesses that:
“The hand of our God was upon us” (Ezra 8:18, 22, 31).
It’s the quiet confession of a person who recognizes providence not as coincidence, but as covenantal care.
In that moment by the river, Ezra learned that spiritual preparation precedes physical progress. Before the people could rebuild anything, they needed to re-align their hearts and rediscover their calling as the people of God. God was not interested in population growth. God's focus has always been on building a worshiping community — a house of prayer for all nations.
“For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Isaiah 56:7 (ESV)
We often rush forward with plans, deadlines, and good intentions, only to find that something essential is missing. We are desperately anemic in prayer, humility, and even the willingness to serve "the house of God." Ezra’s pause reminds us that when we stop to seek God, He supplies what we cannot find on our own. The Levites came to join the challenge to return to Jerusalem, not by one man's appeal, but by God’s gracious initiative.
The Moravian community in Herrnhut stands as a timeless testament to the power of unified, dedicated prayer. In 1727, a group of believers, once torn by division, committed themselves to repentance and coming together under the leadership of Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf. What followed was a humble, continuous prayer meeting that, fueled by faith and unity, lasted for over one hundred years! This relentless devotion didn't just transform a village. It birthed an extraordinary global awakening. From that place of sustained intercession, missionaries were sent to every continent, proving that ordinary people can achieve an extraordinary impact when they submit themselves to God through prayer. In fact, the fire that began in Herrnhut eventually touched the heart of John Wesley, whose encounter with the Moravians helped ignite the great Evangelical Revival that transformed England and beyond.
Imagine the impact that our current devotion, unity, and continuous prayer could have today. I believe we, too, are poised to pray for an awakening that could reshape our communities and reach the world. Let the example of Herrnhut inspire us to renew our commitment to intercede for the awakening we long to see.
The Gospel teaches the same truth on a greater scale. We were unqualified to serve, yet Christ, our true High Priest, came willingly to bring us back to the altar of grace. He not only gathers His scattered people but also equips them for worship and service through His Spirit. What Ezra saw dimly by the river, we now see fully at the cross—the hand of God shaping His people for His glory.
Just like the people of Ezra at the side of the river, I believe our Heavenly Father is calling us to be the "Levites" of our day. Let's answer the call.
In His Grace Alone,
Pastor Brian Lee
(The drawing depicts the Moravian Church of 1727 praying on their knees.)
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