Ezra chapter 9 is basically a prayer, at least its last two-thirds, from verse 6 until the chapter’s end, verse 15. In fact, it is a GREAT prayer! (Something interesting about the Bible, Daniel chapter 9 is such a prayer. As is Nehemiah chapter 9! Wow!)

I just saw where a Bible teacher labeled Ezra 9:1-5 “the faithlessness of the people.” Then he called Ezra 9:6-15 “the Faithfulness of God!” Pretty accurate!

But for today, we notice the man of God (Ezra) at prayer.

First, recognize this is not just a “personal” prayer. Its pronouns are plural! This is a leader confessing the sins of his wayward people. If “wayward” is too strong an adjective, try “unseparated.” Worldly, carnal!

“And (Ezra) said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.” Ezra 9:6, national sins are in view! Loads of them!

(Listen to a part of Daniel’s parallel prayer: “(Lord) we have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.” Daniel 9:5-6)

A Nation repenting!

Back to Ezra’s pleading … “O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.” Ezra 9:15

Thank God for the truth 1st John 1:9 verbalizes: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So Ezra confessed, and God forgave!

(Oh, to have national prayer meetings like this again today! 2nd Chronicles 7:14 style: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” God is still faithful!)

Confession of sin!

But … confession is not all that is needed!

One more verb needs emphasis now. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth AND FORSAKETH them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13, “forsaking” sins, also an essentiality!

And that fact leads us to Ezra chapter 10, Monday’s Lesson, the Lord willing.

The FORSAKING part of the “forgiveness” (“confession”) equation!

Someone reading here today, pray for America!

If she falls … we all hurt!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

My Text this morning, for our daily Lesson, is Ezra 9:4. One line from that significant verse. “Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.”

This single line … “EVERY ONE THAT TREMBLED AT THE WORDS OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL!”

Trembling at God’s Word, God’s Words!

The term for “trembled” is “chared,” Hebrew for “being afraid.” Literally “quaking!” Even “startled, terrified, discomforted!”

Wow!

Being that impacted by Scripture!

Here’s “chared” in use: “And when he (a messenger) came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart TREMBLED for the ark of God.” 1 Samuel 4:13

But my favorite example of Biblical use of “chared” is Isaiah 66:2, obviously used in a complementary manner! “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and TREMBLETH at my word.”

Wow!

Would that God’s Word had this effect on us all!

The writer of Psalm 119 could teach us a lot about this concept!

“My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.” Psalm 119:20, with “breaketh” meaning “to be crushed!”

“Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.” Psalm 119:53, with “horror” meaning “raging heat!” Upset at the ungodly!

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Psalm 119:71, turning “affliction” (times of trembling) into blessings! “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” Verse 75 as well!

“My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.” Psalm 119:81, actually “fainting” is quite near “trembling!”

“I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.” Psalm 119:93, being that “impressed” with God’s Word!

“Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.” Psalm 119:111, so reverencing God’s Word!

“My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.” Psalm 119:120, where “trembleth” literally means “shivering, bristling!” (Goosebumps!)

Maybe not trembling, but close! “I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.” Psalm 119:131, “to breathe heavily,” also “to swallow up, to devour!”

“Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.” Psalm 119:136, “crying” and “trembling” may not be that distant in meaning!

“My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.” Wow, Psalm 119:139, completely involved, emotionally as well!

“I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.” Psalm 119:145, trembling and sobbing in prayer! His goal?  Total dedication to God’s Word!

“I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.” Psalm 119:158, being “grieved” and “trembling,” again pretty close!

Such a high value for Scripture, one of the best examples in the Bible, this Psalmist. “I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.” Psalm 119:174, where “longing” means “to crave intensely, deeply!”

Yes, Ezra trembled at God’s Words!

Should we then treat the same Truths lightly?

God forbid!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

It’s truly the focus of Ezra, largely so.

For that matter Nehemiah, too. (Of course they are “twin” Books in many ways, one following the other chronologically, books of Biblical history.)

Paul hammered on this topic as well.

As did nearly all the Old Testament Prophets, if not all!

And that is?

“SEPARATION!”

The simple fact that the Lord wants His people to be “different” than those around them, those who know not God in all His Beauty!

Actually the Book of Ezra, its greatest hermeneutical (interpretive) issues rest in this area of “separation.” Ezra was so strict as a separatist! Nearly brutally so! (As we shall soon see.)

But today’s Text claims our immediate attention … “Now when these things were done, 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. And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.” Ezra 9:1-3, amazing!

The verb “separate” is spelled “badal” in Hebrew. It means “to divide, to rip asunder!” (In God’s Eyes “GOOD” is always tarnished by “BAD!” And “PURITY” must always live apart from “FILTH,” lest it be contaminated!)

Hence we now face the “problem” that consumed the rest of the Book of Ezra!

A people back in the “Land” is good.

But a polluted people back in the “Land” is not good!

This “lack of separation” seems to bother no one today, in the 21st century!

Not as much as it “bothered” Ezra, the godly leader. His words … “And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.” Autobiographical, isn’t it? (By the way, “astonied” means appalled, stunned, amazed!)

Sin dilutes a Christian’s power!

And prayer potential!

And testimony!

And no telling what else!

Paul needs to say something here, which fits Ezra’s situation pretty well. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

Need anything else be said today?

But plenty more tomorrow, as we journey through Ezra’s last two chapters.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Yes, Ezra has brought (successfully, under the power of God) his “group” home, back to Jerusalem. And they have (fully) delivered the “goods” (silver and gold) King Artaxerxes send to finance the continuing developing of Jewish culture, worship. “Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites; by number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.”

Worship? “Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.”

“And they delivered the king’s commissions (decrees, laws) unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river.” Ezra 8:33-36, their “to-do” list now being complete!

But one more thing is added to our Text, the last line of Ezra chapter 8 in fact. “… and they furthered the people, and the house of God.”

This is the crux of today’s Lesson … “… and they furthered the people, and the house of God.” Remember, Ezra’s very name means “helper!” And his followers have become “helpers” too!

Yes, the verb “furthered” translates the Hebrew word “nasa,” It most fully means “to lift a load!” To be an “encourager,” a “fellow-soldier” … “nasa” being translated “armourbearer” 18 times in the King James Bible! (Like Ezra … like his congregation!)

Well over a dozen times (closer to 18) the New Testament teaches us Christians to be “one another” people! (To love one another! To exhort one another! To submit to one another! Etc.)

To be “further-ers” of the Cause of Christ!

Yes, “furtherers,” not “hinderers!”

Wow!

What a thought, from an unusual Text.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, the verb “furthered” (“nasa”) is expressed, framed in the “PIEL” stem, a point of Hebrew grammar. It means they helped energetically! With all their might! Not lukewarmly!

Amen!

 

Wow, what a chapter!

Ezra 8, though at first I thought it was “all names,” that is … only names!

Come to discover, it is full of practical instruction!

Even today’s paragraph … “Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.” Ezra 8:31-32

“Then we departed,” a journey has begun! This is the second such trip recorded in the Book of Ezra, captives (now freed) being allowed to go home, home to Jerusalem and vicinity.

A journey of four months, according to Ezra 7:9 … “For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.” This is a distance of around 800-900 miles, I am told.

A “caravan” consisting of old folks, as well as young parents and their children, including infants one may presume. What an arduous trek this could have been!

But look!

What a testimony! “The hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.”

God’s delivering Hand!

What enemies?

What potential ambushes?

We are not told.

But “they” were out there, lurking and planning harm to the Jews!

Yet God allowed none of them to “touch the apple of His Eye,” His little Jewish Nation, a major part of it anyway! (Deuteronomy 32:10 … “The LORD kept them as the apple of His eye.” As a very tender part of Himself!)

Maybe better yet, this bare, bold fact … “He that toucheth you (Israel) toucheth the apple of His Eye.” Zechariah 2:8

What is Ezra doing, in penning today’s Paragraph, today’s Text?

Bragging on God!

Uplifting His Name!

Magnifying His Grace!

Revealing His power!

Dear readers here this morning, this is testifying, the right way! “And the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.”

Testimony, true praise to God … is NOT about us. Rather, it is all about HIM!

Amen!

Then … our Lesson for today ends with this information. ““And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.” Three days of doing what?

Nothing! Nothing recorded anyway.

Just thinking and meditating and resting in the comforting peace of God’s goodness and provision and care! Just soaking in the fact that GOD IS GOOD!

And maybe for three days reveling (rejoicing) in the amazing Awesomeness of God Almighty!

Testifying one to another!

The Seraphim (angels) of Isaiah 6 were delighting in the Glory of god … saying TO EACH OTHER, “Holy, Holy, Holy” is the Lord our God! (Verse 3 … “And ONE cried unto ANOTHER, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” King James Version, word for word.)

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Psalm 107:2 sums today’s lesson well. “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.”