And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
And now for a short time, the LORD our God has shown us kindness by letting some of us survive and giving us a secure place in his holy temple, so that our God may bring light to our eyes and give us a little hope and strength even while we are still in bondage.
Ezra is acknowledging that God has shown mercy by allowing some Jewish people to survive exile and return to rebuild the temple, giving them hope even though they're still under foreign rule.
📚 Historical Context
This prayer comes after the Jewish people had returned from Babylonian exile around 538 BC under Persian rule. Though they were back in their homeland and rebuilding the temple, they were still subject to foreign powers and facing many challenges. Ezra is reflecting on God's mercy in preserving a remnant of His people and allowing them to worship again in Jerusalem.
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