From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been steeped in sin - Ezra 9:7
People usually follow an example than any amount of talking
If you want people to do what is good and right, do those things yourself
Ezra led the second wave of Jewish exiles to their homeland after 70 years of capivity
They started living like pagans they had married - Ezra 9:1
Ezra was innocent of any wrongdoing and could have let God deal with them as they deserved
Instead, Ezra prayed in repentance on behalf of all the people and included himself
His repentance by example move his people to change their ways