God forgives those who repent.
If we neglect spiritual vigilance and right living, we fall into spiritual and moral decline. This is what happened to the post-captivity Jews in Judah, with the passing of 80 years after the Captivity. When Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in 457 BC, he found that many of the men of Judah had married idolatrous Gentile women. This was a symptom of a lax spirituality and posed a serious danger to the future well-being of the Jews. If they intermingled with Gentiles and became idolatrous, they would again be judged by God and lose all they had regained after the Captivity. For us, this is a lesson about the need for repentance and spiritual renewal.
……Mama always told me, "son, you are who you hang out with." How true that statement became and still rings true today.
Why do you think people backslide from their commitment to living for God?
Why are repentance and spiritual renewal necessary when backsliding occurs?
…….The soul duty of the priests and Levites were to provide spiritual leadership for the Jews, in this case many did not.
Jas 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters (instructors, teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
…….The immediate response of God's prophet was shame, remorse and anguish. If there is one thing the church (as a whole) has become comfortable in living without, this is it. The Lord finds rest with people who are ashamed of and refuses sin and rebellion.
…….Ezra reflects directly on the failures of the past and how God had mercy on Judah before. Not only is it important to remember all the blessings bestowed on our lives, but to also remember the punishment that always comes from rebellion.
…….The first step of repentance is honestly opening up in broken humility by admitting present sin.
Ezr 10:1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
…….Ezra as governor displayed the perfect scene of repentance by an open confession of the for the entire city. His brokenness was so effective that others who were guilty were compelled and convicted as well.
…….While you may not be the leader of a great number of people, you are a leader somewhere. The contrition of your prayers will lead to a life of example that compels and changes those around you.
Ezr 10:2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
…….Many times when confession is made, it is helpful for the confessor to make a Covenant (promise) to the Lord. Our covenants are important, not that they do anything for God, but simply to remind, and prevent us to never again return to the sin.
…….Our covenants May be a separation from relationships or things that cause us to fail. Anything that brings a wedge between man and His relationship with God must be divided.
Ezr 10:5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
…….When the leader of any organization steps up to do the right thing, it is the duty of the congregation to take side with God's man, regardless of others opinions.
While you may not see immediate results, the Lord will honor you for simply doing what is right.
Ezr 10:8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
Ezr 10:9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
…….One thing that stands out to me in this section is the continuation of Ezra's remorse. Just because there was an agreement by the congregation don't mean it was time to let down the standard. This man prayed through! He was in such a place with God that even though things were looking better, he didn't want to leave that Holy Place!
Ezr 10:10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
Ezr 10:11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
…….Ezra was no fair weather Christian!
Standing in the cold rain, Ezra addressed the multitude that had gathered in Jerusalem to confess and repent of their sins of marrying Gentile women.
Ezr 10:12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
Ezr 10:13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.
Ezr 10:14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
Ezr 10:15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
Ezr 10:16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
Ezr 10:17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.
Ezr 10:18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
Ezr 10:19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.