Ezra the Scribe

Prepared his heart to seek, do, and teach in Israel statutes and judgments; refuses a military escort because he had told the king the hand of God is upon them; on hearing of the foreign marriages tears his garment, plucks hair from his head and beard, sits astonished till the evening sacrifice; leads corporate confession; reform follows. Restoration path: Seek, do, then teach — in that order; refuse the escort you would not have boasted in; sit astonished before you act. Markers: sequence: seek, do, teach; refuses the borrowed protection; tears his own garment first; sits astonished till the evening sacrifice; leads corporate confession before structural change