“And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 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. Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.” Ezra 10:10-12

We have now come to one of the most difficult passages in the whole Book of Ezra! At least hard to explain to a Western (Christian) congregation.

In fact, this is quite a stringent Text, Old Testament or New!

The breaking up, dissolving, of families! Marriages then, but unions that never should have occurred in the first place!

And it is not a “marginal” or “optional” issue, either. One of the greatest Bible leaders ever, Ezra himself, is the protagonist, the “separator!”

So remember that Ezra is not only a “scribe,” but also a “priest.” A man who is essentially (in the Old Testament) a “go-between” or a “mediator” linking a holy God and fallen, sinful man.

But that “link” can’t occur if known, unconfessed sin is allowed to live (even covertly) in one’s heart! Bible proof: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalm 66:18

Jeremiah 27: 8 addresses this issue too. “For what is the hope of the hypocrite? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?” With the implied answer being “No!”

Or Proverbs 15:8 … “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” (“Abomination” … it makes God “sick,” literally “disgusted!”)

Proverbs 15:29 … “The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” (Again it seems He does NOT hear the prayer of the wicked! Except when he cries “God be merciful to me a sinner!”)

Proverbs 28:9 … “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Spurn God’s Word … then you can forget “answered prayer” in your life!) God’s Word that forbids marriage to a lost (unsaved, ungodly) mate!

In that same vein: “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” John 9:31

James 4:3 even … “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (Intermarriage with those heathen “beauties” could easily be classified “lust.”) Wow, the folks of Ezra’s day were in real NEED of repentance.

Yet, and thankfully so …

The people were willing to do just that, repent and change their ways!

“And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 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. Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, AS THOU HAST SAID, SO WE MUST DO.”

To “separate,” using “badal” as the verb … “to divide oneself, to be severed!”

The spiritual health of the nation depends on this!

In fact, the very existence of Judah as a nation does too!

Note that these illegal (in God’s Eyes) marriages have “increased the trespass of Israel.” Have “added to” the list of national wrongs, to the “guilt” of the populace. 

Thus Ezra has become a Book of “separation” in some ways. And Preachers yet today “shy away” from these 10 chapters because of this drastic (???) solution to the Jews being so deeply “yoked with sin!” “Separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.”

From the “foreign” (not true God -worshippers) wives!

No wonder even the New Testament pounds this sacred “drum,” this holy “principle.”

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:14

But let’s back up three verses: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (Surely “marriage” would be rightly considered a “yoke,” two laboring as one.)

More specifically (though back to the Old Testament), Deuteronomy 7:3 of the heathen: “Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.” Crystal clear, isn’t it?

Furthermore, read this contemporaneous account, from Ezra’s friend Nehemiah’s memoirs: “In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.” Nehemiah 13:23-26, what a sermon!

And Malachi 2:11, also written about this same time: “Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.”

I can describe God’s prohibitions all day long … but the “key” to today’s Lesson is found in those last few words of our Text: “As thou hast said, so we must do!”

That equates to Wisdom in any language, when spoken to Almighty God!

“As thou hast said, so we must do!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The Church parking area, at the lunch break! Looked pretty good!

The Book of Philemon, verse by verse!

Today I have had the honor of teaching a 4 hour Bible Study Class!

Yes, from 10:00 this morning until 2:00 this afternoon! Well, we did have a (delicious) lunch break! At the sweet Sunnyside Baptist Church near Lafayette, Georgia.

I had planned to write the Saturday Website Lesson this afternoon when returning home. But the schedule is just not going to allow that. Oh yes, we’re back home (3:30 PM) … but must pack and leave for a Revival Meeting beginning tomorrow morning in the Atlanta area. Welcome Hill Baptist Church in Hiram, Georgia.

This means … the next Ezra Lesson will be written (the Lord willing) Monday morning, from a motel room in Hiram. From Ezra chapter 10.

Pray for us please this busy weekend.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

We have reached the last chapter of the Book of Ezra.

And a meeting has been called …

“Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away. And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto ALL the children of the captivity, that THEY should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; 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. 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.” Ezra 10:6-9, note the pronouns I have emphasized, capitalized please.

A convocation to deal with the rampant sin among the people!

The sin of “mixing” with the ungodly culture that surrounded them!

The sin of not being “separated” from iniquity!

This gathering is “no cozy seminar,” to quote one commentator I read earlier today.

It is assembled “under duress!”

NO CHOICE IS GIVEN TO THE ATTENDEES!

And there’s a penalty for not coming! “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.” Loss of personal property … and banishment from the country!

At this meeting … SIN WILL BE CONFRONTED, HEAD-ON!

At this meeting … ACTION MUST BE TAKEN, COSTLY ACTION! (We are talking about the “breaking up” of established families, but “forbidden unions” nonetheless!)

Wow!

Ezra chapter 10 is one of the most unique (and serious) chapters in all the Bible!

The Text today reminds me of some other “forced” meetings in the future of mankind!

Like the “Judgment Seat of Christ” for every believer in Jesus!

Like the “Great White Throne” Judgment for every unbeliever!

No choice!

God ultimately holds His creation RESPONSIBLE for how we have lived our lives!

Are YOU ready for your day of judgment?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Oh, by the way, did you notice the “weather report” at the end of our Text, Ezra 10:9? Read it with me once more … “and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.”

Trembling in fear … not filial fear (reverence for a Father) but servile fear (keen awareness of impending judgment) … but also “for the great rain.”

As if God “matched” the precipitation with the spiritual condition of the people. (And since this whole “mess” is over the Jews marrying ungodly, heathen women … maybe Proverbs 27:15 links the situation to the pouring rain! “A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.” Wow!)

Remember the rain at the Flood, in Noah’s day!

Sodom and Gomorrah too? But there God “rained” fire and brimstone!

Then again, God is fully capable of sending “showers of blessings” too! Ezekiel 34:26 … “There shall be showers of blessing.” A promise to an obedient people!

 

I’m sure many of you are familiar with Barnabas, of New Testament fame. His very name means “son of a prophet,” according to my sources. If that’s accurate, his  father must have been a great man, godly to the core. And very learned in the art of encouragement!

The first three times we meet Barnabas in the New Testament, he is encouraging someone! From the suffering early Church … to the neophyte Apostle Paul! This man was a “supporting” Believer. (The ministry of “helping!”) He easily could have written these words: “Exhort (encourage) one another daily!” Hebrews 3:13

He came to mind earlier this morning as I prepared for today’s Lesson here on the Website. Except Barnabas is not yet the focus, rather a man named Shechaniah and his co-laborers. They told Ezra, concerning a problem among the Jews at Jerusalem (well, throughout the whole little nation for that matter) … “Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.” Ezra 10:4

Ezra, “get up.” (In Hebrew “arise,” spelled “qum.”) It’s time to “do something” about all these sinful alliances in Judah!

Then the noun “matter” translates “dabar,” a “word” must be spoken. We need a leader! And Ezra, you are the (God-chosen, appointed) man!

But you will not have to act alone. “We also will be with thee.” The emphatic preposition “with” is spelled “im,” a word indicating “companionship” first, and then “fellowship!”

Then a preventive piece of advice … “Be of good courage.” And here “chazaq” means “to be hardened, to be strong,” in the sense of battle prepared! Additionally, it is rendered “to prevail” (to win the victory) exactly 10 times in the King James Bible. Wow!

Then finally, “Do it.” The verb here is “asah,” As a command, an imperative! Go out and “accomplish” the task at hand! Still implied, we will be by your side!

Amazing!

Thorough, too!

Folks, this is as good an example of exhortation, encouragement, loyalty as I’ve seen in the Old Testament in quite some time! (Another one; godly Barzillai’s overwhelming kindness to King David as he fled Jerusalem during the Absalom revolt!)

Helping others who also name the name of Christ!

What a noble goal for every single Christian!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

And now, we better know how to do that!

 

His name is Shechaniah.

Watch him in action. “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. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.” Ezra 10:2-3

There’s a verb in Hebrew, “shakan,” which means “to dwell.” It is the very heart of the Bible (Old Testament) term “Skekinah Glory,” which described God’s very Presence among His people! THIS IS THE ROOT WORD BEHIND THIS GOOD MAN’S NAME, “SHECHANIAH!”

He’s here the spokesman for the people of Judah, and obviously some kind of leader.

“We have sinned,” he says, actually “We have trespassed against our God!” It’s that godly seed marrying ungodly mates that has again risen in Israel!

“Strange” wives, “nokriy” in Hebrew, means “foreign” wives. Not because of some racial barrier, but because they do not know the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. This is a religious/spiritual issue, definitely not a “color of one’s skin” issue!

But the problem, in Shechaniah’s opinion, is not hopeless! “Yet now there is hope.”

The solution, drastic as it may sound … “Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them.” Wow!

This “watering down” of Judah’s faith must stop! Should this blatant lack of separation continue … Judah’s very existence as a nation could be threatened!

The verb “put away” is “yatzsa,” and means “to cause to depart.” This will, essentially, be “sanctioned divorce!” Extremely rare in the Bible!

Surely this nearly unthinkable “solution” shows how critically life-threatening the “problem” had become, in the eyes of Judah’s leadership anyway!

But, Shechaniah cautions, let us only do so … “according to the counsel of my lord (Ezra), and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God (other holy God-revering people); and let it be done according to the law (of Moses).”

He advocated several checks-and-balances to be sure things were kept “right!”

This is nearly as draconian as Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 5:29. “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee.” And the very next verse as well: “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee.” Over matters of life or death, survival! Over eternal matters like heaven and hell!

But, Shechaniah adds, “Let it be done according to the law.” Not simply as an overreaction or in some sort of emotional upheaval!

Let’s consult the Word of God!

More about this tomorrow … but (since God did not in the least rebuke their decisions here) looks like their plan of action is sound, in such critical times as they lived!

They seems to be retroactively obeying Texts such as 2nd Corinthians 6:14. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I wish they had thought of “purity” before those little children had been born, not afterwards!