As we have discovered (in Ezra chapter 9), there is “sin in the camp!” (Read it again: “The princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.” Ezra 9:1-2, intermarriage with their heathen neighbors!)
Now … what to do about it?
So Ezra 10:1 begins: “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 10:1, the Book’s very last chapter.
Why such sorrow?
Again, SIN!
Broken over such disobedience (flagrantly so) of God’s Word, Ezra physically responds!
Emotionally!
That’s how highly the man exalted God’s Word, obedience to God’s Word!
Remember Ezra 7:10? “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord AND TO DO IT, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” Disrespect to the Commands of Almighty God, serious business … dangerous even!
But my point today is this:
Note the influence this holy man (Ezra) had on the people of Judah, the rank and file. “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 was disturbed.
Then shortly, so were the people!
Oh, the IMPACT of a godly life!
Even the words of Jesus are coming to mind, where He said (prayed to His Father) … “For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” (John 17:19) Jesus’ here believes that His pristine Example of godly living would clearly impress His followers, believers, disciples! So much so that they would follow in His Steps … seek (via the Presence of the Holy Spirit) to live like Him!
(1st Peter 2:21, in part … “Because Christ … leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” My secondary proof Text!)
Wow!
Paul to Timothy, obviously trusting to influence that young Preacher … “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience …” Wow, 2nd timothy 3:10.
Ezra was demonstrably brokenhearted over the unconfessed, unforsaken sins of the people of Judah!
And soon … they (the general population) were as well!
Again I say it, observe it … the POWER of a godly life to influence others for the Cause of Christ!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Are YOU impacting anyone for Jesus’ Sake?