Ezr 10:6 | KingComments | STEP | Humanly speaking, Ezra is almost alone. But God is with him, and so it happens that the hearts of the people bow down before him ( ). Then Ezra responds by standing up out of his humiliation ( ). His sadness lasts as long as sin remains, because deep within his heart he feels the dishonor that the Name of God has been done to. The secret of spiritual power is to be alone with God. The work of God’s Spirit also becomes public in the actions of the people. They call on all exiles to come to Jerusalem to discuss the situation that has arisen ( ). Discipline, which has been completely neglected and neglected by the spiritual laxity of the people, is now exercised again according to God’s thoughts. Refusal now to listen to God’s Word would prove a hardness of heart and a self-willed spirit that cannot be maintained among the assembly of the exiles ( ). The call finds hearing. All the men of Judah and Jerusalem come to Jerusalem within the appointed time ( ). There they gather in the open square before the house of God. They tremble both because of their conscience and the pain and sorrow of having to break the blood ties that have arisen as well as because of the heavy rain. The heavy rain gave them an extra feeling of divine dissatisfaction about their unfaithfulness. Ezra speaks to the assembled people ( ). In his confession in Ezra 9 he has united himself with the sin of the people. There he speaks to God about “we”. This is the true place in relation to God. When he speaks to the people here, he speaks about “you”. Here he speaks in this way, because he wants to touch their hearts and consciences. There is only one way to prove the sincerity of a confession and that is to get rid of evil. Confession alone is not enough, they must also submit to God’s will. Confession without judging sin is self-deception. Self-judgment and separation from evil are necessary ( ). They must abandon their relationship with the nations of the land and send the strange women away. The second is a consequence of the first, therefore this order must be followed. The root of evil must first be judged. The sending away of women and children will have been a very moving thing, which has been accompanied by a lot of grief and begging. Real repentance is always accompanied by grief and pain over the sin that has been committed.

‏ Ezra 10:6

Ezra Calls the People to Confession

Humanly speaking, Ezra is almost alone. But God is with him, and so it happens that the hearts of the people bow down before him (Ezra 10:5). Then Ezra responds by standing up out of his humiliation (Ezra 10:6). His sadness lasts as long as sin remains, because deep within his heart he feels the dishonor that the Name of God has been done to. The secret of spiritual power is to be alone with God.

The work of God’s Spirit also becomes public in the actions of the people. They call on all exiles to come to Jerusalem to discuss the situation that has arisen (Ezra 10:7). Discipline, which has been completely neglected and neglected by the spiritual laxity of the people, is now exercised again according to God’s thoughts. Refusal now to listen to God’s Word would prove a hardness of heart and a self-willed spirit that cannot be maintained among the assembly of the exiles (Ezra 10:8).

The call finds hearing. All the men of Judah and Jerusalem come to Jerusalem within the appointed time (Ezra 10:9). There they gather in the open square before the house of God. They tremble both because of their conscience and the pain and sorrow of having to break the blood ties that have arisen as well as because of the heavy rain. The heavy rain gave them an extra feeling of divine dissatisfaction about their unfaithfulness.

Ezra speaks to the assembled people (Ezra 10:10). In his confession in Ezra 9 he has united himself with the sin of the people. There he speaks to God about “we”. This is the true place in relation to God. When he speaks to the people here, he speaks about “you”. Here he speaks in this way, because he wants to touch their hearts and consciences.

There is only one way to prove the sincerity of a confession and that is to get rid of evil. Confession alone is not enough, they must also submit to God’s will. Confession without judging sin is self-deception. Self-judgment and separation from evil are necessary (Pro 28:13). They must abandon their relationship with the nations of the land and send the strange women away. The second is a consequence of the first, therefore this order must be followed. The root of evil must first be judged.

The sending away of women and children will have been a very moving thing, which has been accompanied by a lot of grief and begging. Real repentance is always accompanied by grief and pain over the sin that has been committed.