{"id":13501,"date":"2025-08-09T07:50:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T11:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&p=13501"},"modified":"2025-08-09T07:50:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T11:50:03","slug":"who-can-stand","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/who-can-stand","title":{"rendered":"WHO CAN STAND?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

\u201cO Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.\u201d (Ezra 9:15 ESV).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When Ezra arrived in Jerusalem with the king\u2019s commission and offerings for the temple, he discovered that many of the priests, Levites, and leaders had led the people into covenant-breaking sin by marrying idol-worshipers from the surrounding nations. This was not a small failure, it was a direct violation of God\u2019s commands and a replay of the sins that had led to the exile (Deut. 7:3\u20134). Ezra responded with public mourning: tearing his clothes, pulling his hair, and falling on his knees in prayer. In this final verse of his confession, Ezra acknowledged God\u2019s justice in preserving only \u201ca remnant that has escaped\u201d and admitted the people\u2019s total inability to stand before Him because of their guilt. For God is righteous in judgment yet merciful in sparing even a remnant. Ezra offered no defense, only humble confession before a holy God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ezra\u2019s question is implied: Who can stand before God? The answer is plain\u2014no one can, apart from His mercy. This is the universal human condition. On our own, we stand condemned, unable to stand before a holy God. But the gospel answers Ezra\u2019s question with hope. The only ones who can stand are those made righteous in Christ. At the cross, Jesus took our guilt, separation, and death, and in exchange gave us His righteousness, sonship, and eternal life. The temple curtain was torn, announcing that we may now draw near\u2014not on our own merit, but clothed in Christ\u2019s perfect righteousness. We are the remnant of grace (Rom. 11:5), and in Him we can \u201cstand firm\u201d (1 Cor. 15:1) and will be presented \u201cblameless before the presence of His glory\u201d (Jude 24).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRAYER: Dear Father, You are just and merciful. We confess that apart from Christ, we could not stand before You. Thank You for making us stand by Your grace, clothing us in Christ\u2019s righteousness, and redeeming us for Your glory. Help us live in humble repentance and steadfast faith, yet with confidence in Christ’s provision. In Jesus\u2019 name, amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cO Lord, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.\u201d (Ezra 9:15 ESV). When Ezra arrived in Jerusalem with the king\u2019s commission and offerings for the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"scripture-book":[1282],"scripture-chapter":[1342],"oyb_day":[1748],"location":[],"class_list":["post-13501","oyb","type-oyb","status-publish","hentry","scripture-book-ezra","scripture-chapter-1342","oyb_day-august-9"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb\/13501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oyb"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13501"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-book?post=13501"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-chapter?post=13501"},{"taxonomy":"oyb_day","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb_day?post=13501"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=13501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}