Ezra 9-10
Unfaithfulness Exposed – Ezra 9
After returning to Judah, Ezra learned that some of the Jews were doing detestable practices like that of their neighbors. They were ignoring God’s instructions and intermarrying with the idol worshiping women of the land. God told His people in Deuteronomy 7 they should not imitate the detestable ways of the other nations living in the land - things like intermarriage, sacrificing their children, practicing divination and sorcery, interpreting omens, or engaging in witchcraft. They were not separating themselves and therefore got caught up in these sins.
They were committing the same sins that they had done before. It’s easy to repeat the mistakes of the past. Human nature seems to work in a cycle and we repeat the same sins of our ancestors.
In Deuteronomy 7 God told them He would drive out the other nations from Israel’s land. He said to not make a treaty with them and to not let their sons and daughters intermarry because they will turn them from following the Lord and serve other gods. God knew they would be easily influenced by pagan idolatry. They should break down their altars and burn their idols. God has concern and purposes for His people. He has set them apart and doesn’t want them to be corrupted by sin. God gives us commands, too because He wants us to be free from sin’s danger. His commands are given to protect His people. There had to be a clear separation from of God’s people or they would be drawn into pagan practices.
Ezra prays for the people. His response to their sin was mourning. He felt ashamed and disgraced not because he sinned but because the people had sinned. This should be a Christian’s response to sin. We should all be sorry for the sins of our fellow man. Ezra prayed a prayer of confession for the people. He affirms God’s righteousness. He doesn’t complain that God was unfair in the past. He asks for God’s mercy without excuse. His prayer should challenge us as we approach God and address sin through prayer.
God was faithful to the Israelites despite their sin, because He chose this unique nation setting them apart from all others. He loved them and had a purpose for them. He had made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17.
Principles:
Confession – Ezra 10
As Ezra prayed, confessed, and wept a large crowd of Israelites gathered around him. They were moved and also wept and confessed their sins. Shecaniah showed courageous leadership and acknowledged that they had been unfaithful and proposed a solution. He proposed a solution. He said they should make a covenant to send away all these foreign women and their children. They came up with a plan to take each case separately. After dealing with each man they found those who had married foreign women.
Breaking up these marriages meant separating father from their wives and children. Ezra probably believed this would restore purity to the nations and be the lesser evil. This doesn’t mean marriages between believers and non-believers should end in divorce. I think the believer should live in a godly manner and be a testimony to the unbelieving partner.
Principle: Genuine repentance involves heartfelt sorrow before God.
Ezra listed those guilty of intermarriage. Why would he make this list? This is a list of men who were forgiven much. They dealt with their sin even though it was hard. This list encourages us to deal with our sin by these men’s example. The Lamb’s Book of Life will contain a much bigger list of all who are forgiven. Will you name be on that list?
2 Cor. 6:14-18 tells us to not be unequally yoked together. 1 Cor. 7:12-17 tells if a believer is already married to an unbeliever they are to stay married, because through the believer the spouse is sanctified meaning they might be saved through the witness of the Christian spouse. Scripture clearly teaches that each individual must come to faith on their own.
The most important lesson from this passage is that holiness must be demonstrated in marriage. Notice that the offenders are on every level – even the priests and their relatives. Sin of a few can have serious consequences in the life of the community.
Principles:
Next week we will continue our study in the book of Esther. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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