SCRIPTURE: EZRA 10
THE EPOPLE CONFESSION OF SIN (vs. 1-17)
Shecaniah, son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam said to Ezra: “We have been unfaithfu to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it” (vs. 2-4)
So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oak to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath.
A proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles. Within three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them: “You have been unfaithful, you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt. Now, make confession to the Lord, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives” (vs. 7-11)
The whole assembly responded affirmatively. So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra selected men who were family heads, one form each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month, they sat down to investigate the cases, and by the first day of the first month, they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women. (vs. 16-17)
THOSE GUILTY OF INTERMARRIAGE (vs. 18-77)
The names of those who had married foreign women and some of them had children by theses wives were listed.
THOUGHTS:
Ezra fasted and prayed for he identified himself with the people in their sins. God answered his pray by touching and committing the hearts of the people. Some of the men came to him openly and confessed that they and married heathen wives and disobeyed the Law of the Lord. They offered to make a covenant with god and to put away their unclean wives , Ezra worked to purge out the sins of the nation. Today, all churches also need a great revival. God’s people should humble themselves before God, confessed their sins and obey god’s word.
The book of Ezra tells of the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of the sacrificial worship. Today, we also need God tore build the lives of the people. And the people need to be restored through repentance.