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?

 

Once Ezra and his compatriots arrived back home, they found things “worse” than they had ever imagined!

The sin of intermarriage (the Jews with the heathen all around them) was rampant!

Apparently idolatry was still in vogue, as well.

The one sin invariably led to the other in ancient Israel.

Ezra immediately learned … “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 (intermarriage with the wicked): 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.” Back to Ezra 9:1-2, a blatant lack of separation!

And (spiritually sensitive) Ezra is stunned by the severity of the situation. “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. 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. And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, and 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 9:3-6

The RIGHT WAY to respond to sin!

What sin?

“We have forsaken thy commandments, which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying: The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons.” Verses 10-12, in part anyway.

Very clear!

These very violations are WHY God sent Judah into (Babylonian) Captivity in the first place! And Ezra returns (after that 70 year Captivity) only to find the same sins still being perpetrated?

Yes!

And now we are nearing the “clause” that constitutes the “core” of today’s lesson. Still Ezra taking: “And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this; should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?” Verses 13-14, still Ezra chapter 9.

“Should Judah persist in these abominable sins, might not God wipe her off the face of the earth?” So (correctly)reasoned Ezra.

But did you note the words … “our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve” … Ezra prayed to God, or spoke concerning God?

“Thou hast punished us LESS that our iniquities deserved!

Wow!

But I suspect, when dealing with his own children (believers in Him) … God nearly ALWAYS chastens and disciplines us LESS than our sins deserve!

It is just a token of His grace!

2nd Timothy 2:13 … “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”

Or Romans 5:20 … “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

As described in Habakkuk 3:2, God had once again “in wrath remembered mercy!”

Lamentations 3:22 … “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.”

Psalm 103:10 … “He (the Lord) hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Due to His great mercy, His leniency!

Amazing!

“Less than we deserve!”

Think about it today.

All the while remembering how our sin(s) deeply grieve the heart of the God we love.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

A vainly PROUD Ezra would have minimized the violations Judah had committed.

But our HUMBLE Ezra said: “Our God has punished us less than our iniquities deserve.”

Wow!

 

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