2020-11-26

Ezra 9:1-15

It has been almost 80 years since the return of the first group of exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem led by Zerrubbabel. Ezra, the priest and teacher of the law led the second group of exiles’ return. Not too long after his arrival in Jerusalem the leaders reported to him the intermarriage between the Israelites and the foreigners, namely the Cannanites, Hittites, Perrizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. Most were the very people God had prohibited the Israelites from making treaty with or intermarrying (Exodus 34:11-16, Deuteronomy 7:1-4). 
Sadly it was the leaders and officials of God’s people who were the culprits in leading the people into this state of syncretism (v.2).
It is a sober reminder to me that everyone is prone to sin and no one is secured from falling. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”- 1 Corinthians 10:12

When I ponder on the great start of the first group of exiles’ faith to their current disregard of God’s command, it also reminded me of man’s sinful nature. “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.”- Ecclesiastes 7:20. Praise God for sending Jesus to wash away my sins.

Ezra, a priest and teacher of the law of God was very familiar with the intricate details of the word of God (Ezra 7:10).  He understood the gravity of sin that the Israelites had committed when they disobeyed God’s command in intermarrying the foreigners. The reports distressed him to the point that he tore his tunic and cloak, pulled his hair from his head and beard (probably a cultural thing) and then he sat flabbergasted until evening sacrifice. Ezra’s commitment to God and His words brought about a personal sickening toward sin.
Nowadays when I hear of sins around me, it is so easy to brush it off and go on with my life. It is a sad reality that Christians are becoming more desensitized to sin. May God help me to hate sin and to take actions within my power to influence people in my circle particularly my sons.

Ezra’s manner of prayer revealed his contrite spirit. Even though he was not the one who was guilty in breaking faith with God, he included himself with the exiles as he confessed the sins of intermarriage with the foreigners. He acknowledged the consequences of their sins and he recounted God’s grace, mercy and kindness. He reasoned that their direct disobedience of God’s command deserved a more harsh punishment than what was given. Ezra’s prayer displayed a sacrifice of a broken and contrite spirit which God will not despise (Psalm 51:17). 

Throughout the passage, Ezra did allow any excuse as to why the people could have intermarried, such as maybe there were less women among them, so they had to take foreign wives, etc. He basically took God’s command at face value without any twisting and turning in order to justify their disobedience. Too often Christians explain away the reasons for not following God’s clear command in order to fulfill their fleshly desire. This should not be, for this is not how we should repay God who gave us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to save us from our wretched self. Thank you God for giving us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!             —- Lai Yee Leong