May 4, 2025, Ezra 9:1-15
May 4, 2025, Ezra 9:1-15
9 After
these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people
of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves
from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from
the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the
Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For
they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for
their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the
peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and
chief men has been foremost.” 3 As soon as I heard
this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and
beard and sat appalled. 4 Then all
who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the
faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I
sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. 5 And
at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and
my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God, 6 saying:
“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to
lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our
heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 7 From
the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for
our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of
the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to
utter shame, as it is today. 8 But now for a brief
moment favor has been shown by the Lord our
God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within
his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little
reviving in our slavery. 9 For we are slaves. Yet
our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his
steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up
the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in
Judea and Jerusalem.
10 “And
now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your
commandments, 11 which you commanded by your
servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land that you are entering, to take
possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the
lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their
uncleanness. 12 Therefore do not give your
daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never
seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the
land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’ 13 And
after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great
guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities
deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, 14 shall
we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who
practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you
consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 15 O Lord, the God of Israel, you are just,
for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are
before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of
this.”
This passage demonstrates
Ezra’s distress over learning of intermarriage within the Israelites.
They were marrying those who did not believe in the one true God. Since this was a direct violation of God’s
commandments, Ezra demonstrated extreme sorrow. God knew if we married
those who didn’t believe in Him, it would dilute our love for Him, and impact
generations to come. He sought forgiveness through prayer and urged his people
to seek repentance and return to God’s will.
Do you routinely recognize your sinful nature and seek repentance? How
comforting is it to know God is quick to forgive us as we seek to align with
his will!
Robin Adams
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