It is a comprehensive confession of sin. The sin that has been committed, he will say, is a sin against God (Ezra 9:6–7); a sin against grace (Ezra 9:8–9); a sin against knowledge (Ezra 9:10–12); a sin against the corrective judgments and warnings of God (Ezra 9:13–14). In other words, it follows the biblical pattern which is: when we are seeking forgiveness, we do not just say,
Terry L. JohnsonGod, forgive me all my sins,and then move on to something else. This is pondered in depth, as is the case in Nehemiah 9:1–38, Psalm 51:1–19, Psalm 32:1–11. These things are not dismissed with a quick prayer, a quick acknowledgement; asking for forgiveness and then moving along. These things are treated and in depth. There is a kind of comprehensive searching of the heart, and the various ways and manners in which God has been offended and forgiveness is needed.1
6 saying:“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.