Ezra 9

Name: Ezra
Author: BiblePics
ISBN: Your ISBN Number

Punishment Humility Prophecy Righteousness Anger Law Prayer Mercy Holiness Worship Acknowledging Salvation Grace Word of God Sin Confession Awe Obedience Purification God

The problem of intermarriage with foreigners and Ezra's response.

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Meet the heroes of Ezra

Intermarriage with Foreigners

1 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.

2 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.

3 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.

4 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.

5 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,

6 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.

7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,

11 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.

12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.

13 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;

14 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?

15 O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

Commentary

Ezra 9 is a chapter that speaks to the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God. In this chapter, Ezra is deeply grieved when he learns that the people of Israel have intermarried with the people of the land, a practice that is strictly forbidden by God. Ezra is so moved by this news that he tears his clothes, pulls out his hair, and falls on his knees in prayer. He pleads with God to forgive the people of Israel for their disobedience and to restore them to a right relationship with Him. Ezra's prayer is a powerful reminder of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God. We are called to be faithful to God and to obey His commands. When we fail to do so, we must repent and seek God's forgiveness. Ezra's prayer is a reminder that God is always willing to forgive us when we turn to Him in repentance. Ezra's prayer also serves as a reminder of the importance of humility. Ezra humbles himself before God and acknowledges the people's sin. He does not try to justify their actions or make excuses for them. Instead, he humbly acknowledges their sin and pleads for God's mercy. Ezra's prayer is a powerful reminder of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God. We must strive to be faithful to God and to obey His commands. When we fail, we must humble ourselves before God and seek His forgiveness.

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