These verses remind me of Joshua 1. When the Israelites were preparing to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land, they paused for 3 days seeking the LORD. They put an intentional time of focusing on God in preparation for the next steps God was leading them too. It was a time of seeking God and His favor to lead them and protect them. Now Ezra has the people pause for 3 days and seek the LORD before returning to Jerusalem. They were seeking God's favor and protection as they go back their homes. In both cases they humbled themselves before the LORD and took the time to get their focus on Him.
How do we prepare for big events in our lives? Do we pause and seek the LORD? Do we put the focus on God and His leading? How do we seek His favor and protection? There is also a reminder as you continue reading the Old Testament that there is a danger of preparing well for focusing on God but not keeping that focus. The Israelites throughout the book of Judges struggled to keep their focus and trouble kept coming in their distraction. They are focusing now as Ezra leads them, but don't forget that eventually that focus shifts and they find themselves turned from God and in exile again. It is important to deliberately prepare to focus on God in big events and important times, but we cannot lose focus when that time is past. We don't just turn our eyes upon Jesus, we keep our eyes upon Jesus.