Ezr 9:1-3 | KingComments | STEP | He who seeks the welfare of God’s people must expect trial and sorrow on his way. In those who have just returned to Jerusalem there is humility, fasting, and supplication. In Jerusalem, however, they find a very different mind. Their coming is the occasion of the revelation of sin that has found entrance. This is what we see in this chapter. Believers may look for a place where the church gathers as Scripture indicates. When they have found such a place, it may sometimes turn out that there is the confession and the outer form, but that the hearts are not turned toward the Lord Jesus. Sometimes they have to notice that there are those who are less spiritual and less zealous for the Lord than some of those they have had to leave behind. Then the test of the truth of God’s Word must be applied. When the truth is ministered, it will become clear whether there is only a confession or whether there really is a desire to come together as a church according to Scripture. In this and the next chapter we see that Ezra applies the truth of God’s Word to the situation that has arisen. As soon as Ezra has arrived in Jerusalem, he is confronted with the evil that has entered. He is told how things are with the people (cf. ). The arrival and actions of the new remnant bring the evil to light. The law has been broken by entering into marriages forbidden by law ( ). These forbidden marriages are a picture of friendship with the world ( ; cf. ). The nations mentioned are all nations that should have been conquered in the days of Joshua ( ). The people are outwardly close to God, but inwardly they are far from Him. Not only the common people, but even priests and Levites have sinned. This evil will only be unmasked as evil when faithful people come who have God’s Word as their standard. Among those who confess to come together in the Name of the Lord Jesus, the greatest evil can manifest itself if there is no walk with Him. Faithful people in the local church will expose that evil. The princes and rulers have even been the first in unfaithfulness ( ). By their bad example they have brought many on the path of sin. Those who are very conscientious not to connect with the world as a church, sometimes do so in their business or even in their marriage. The present remnant has gone out of Babylon with their bodies, but the spirit of Babylon is still in them. Their connections do not directly represent personal connections for us, but mainly principles that are opposed to the “holy race”. Legalism, for example, is such a strange wife. The Galatians have made such connections, as many Christians still do today. Through his letter to them, Paul wants to persuade them to expel this strange wife. In the letter to the Corinthians we see these ‘strange women’ for example in the use of wrong building materials ( ), in which we can see the use of strange methods in the (re)building of the church. Ezra is appalled ( ). Is it possible that this remnant, torn from the fire by God, has forgotten the hand of Him Who set them free, that they marry daughters of strange gods? Ezra is a man who lives in fellowship with God. He feels like no other the seriousness and depth of sin. He alone can identify with the sin of others, as we also see with Daniel, Nehemiah, Moses. Ezra humbles himself personally, carrying the sin of the people as his own. When sin becomes manifest in the midst of God’s people, we are called upon not primarily to act, but to humble ourselves. Ezra expresses his humility by tearing his garment and robe and pulling hair from his head and beard. He beats himself first instead of going directly to the guilty to punish them. So, he sits down. Through Ezra’s behavior the conscience of others is exercised. After the personal humiliation of Ezra more people join him in this ( ). They “tremble at the words of the God of Israel” (cf. ), which indicates that they too mourn about the condition of the people. Through the open horror and grief at sin shown by Ezra, others come to him. The grief over “the unfaithfulness of the exiles” unites them in humility before the LORD. A breach in the faithfulness to the LORD is a great evil. Unfaithfulness in a relationship is extremely painful and hurtful to the person being harmed. Ezra and the others feel this with God’s grief. They also acknowledge that God’s wrath must come upon them for this. At the time of the evening offering, Ezra pours out the deep sadness of his heart before God. On the one hand he is deeply saddened by the sin of the people. On the other hand, he seizes the power of the evening offering – that is, the daily evening burnt offering – to approach God in view of the committed sins (cf. ; ; ; ). This shows us in the picture that one is lifted above the failure of the whole when Christ and His work for God are placed before the heart. Confession of sin in the light of Christ’s offering is the basis for God to pass over the sin of His people. By the time the evening sacrifice is brought, Ezra rises up out of humiliation ( ). He has a broken heart because of the sin of the people. He also knows where only help can be found. The evening offering is the only ground on which God can endure the unfaithfulness of His people. The evening offering speaks of the offering of Christ, Who at the time of the evening offering, the third hour, received no answer from God because He was made sin ( ). Because He received no answer, God can answer Elijah and Daniel and Ezra to their prayers. The noun “ humiliation” appears in the Bible only here with Ezra. It is the expression of experiencing evil in God’s people in a way that is consistent with Who God is. Someone who feels evil in this way can be used by God as His instrument for the benefit of His people. In that mind Ezra bows his knees and spreads his hands unto the LORD his God to pray for the people. What a moving example for us! How far we often are from that. May it be our desire to become more like Ezra in this.

‏ Ezra 9:1-3

Introduction

He who seeks the welfare of God’s people must expect trial and sorrow on his way. In those who have just returned to Jerusalem there is humility, fasting, and supplication. In Jerusalem, however, they find a very different mind. Their coming is the occasion of the revelation of sin that has found entrance. This is what we see in this chapter.

Believers may look for a place where the church gathers as Scripture indicates. When they have found such a place, it may sometimes turn out that there is the confession and the outer form, but that the hearts are not turned toward the Lord Jesus. Sometimes they have to notice that there are those who are less spiritual and less zealous for the Lord than some of those they have had to leave behind.

Then the test of the truth of God’s Word must be applied. When the truth is ministered, it will become clear whether there is only a confession or whether there really is a desire to come together as a church according to Scripture. In this and the next chapter we see that Ezra applies the truth of God’s Word to the situation that has arisen.

Ezra Hears of Mixed Marriages

As soon as Ezra has arrived in Jerusalem, he is confronted with the evil that has entered. He is told how things are with the people (cf. 1Cor 1:11). The arrival and actions of the new remnant bring the evil to light. The law has been broken by entering into marriages forbidden by law (Exo 34:12-16). These forbidden marriages are a picture of friendship with the world (Jam 4:4; cf. 2Cor 6:14-15).

The nations mentioned are all nations that should have been conquered in the days of Joshua (Deu 7:1-6). The people are outwardly close to God, but inwardly they are far from Him. Not only the common people, but even priests and Levites have sinned. This evil will only be unmasked as evil when faithful people come who have God’s Word as their standard. Among those who confess to come together in the Name of the Lord Jesus, the greatest evil can manifest itself if there is no walk with Him. Faithful people in the local church will expose that evil.

The princes and rulers have even been the first in unfaithfulness (Ezra 9:2). By their bad example they have brought many on the path of sin. Those who are very conscientious not to connect with the world as a church, sometimes do so in their business or even in their marriage. The present remnant has gone out of Babylon with their bodies, but the spirit of Babylon is still in them.

Their connections do not directly represent personal connections for us, but mainly principles that are opposed to the “holy race”. Legalism, for example, is such a strange wife. The Galatians have made such connections, as many Christians still do today. Through his letter to them, Paul wants to persuade them to expel this strange wife. In the letter to the Corinthians we see these ‘strange women’ for example in the use of wrong building materials (1Cor 3:12-17), in which we can see the use of strange methods in the (re)building of the church.

Ezra is appalled (Ezra 9:3). Is it possible that this remnant, torn from the fire by God, has forgotten the hand of Him Who set them free, that they marry daughters of strange gods? Ezra is a man who lives in fellowship with God. He feels like no other the seriousness and depth of sin. He alone can identify with the sin of others, as we also see with Daniel, Nehemiah, Moses.

Ezra humbles himself personally, carrying the sin of the people as his own. When sin becomes manifest in the midst of God’s people, we are called upon not primarily to act, but to humble ourselves. Ezra expresses his humility by tearing his garment and robe and pulling hair from his head and beard. He beats himself first instead of going directly to the guilty to punish them. So, he sits down.

Through Ezra’s behavior the conscience of others is exercised. After the personal humiliation of Ezra more people join him in this (Ezra 9:4). They “tremble at the words of the God of Israel” (cf. Isa 66:2b), which indicates that they too mourn about the condition of the people. Through the open horror and grief at sin shown by Ezra, others come to him. The grief over “the unfaithfulness of the exiles” unites them in humility before the LORD. A breach in the faithfulness to the LORD is a great evil. Unfaithfulness in a relationship is extremely painful and hurtful to the person being harmed. Ezra and the others feel this with God’s grief. They also acknowledge that God’s wrath must come upon them for this.

At the time of the evening offering, Ezra pours out the deep sadness of his heart before God. On the one hand he is deeply saddened by the sin of the people. On the other hand, he seizes the power of the evening offering – that is, the daily evening burnt offering – to approach God in view of the committed sins (cf. 1Sam 7:9; 1Kgs 18:36; Dan 9:21; Acts 10:3). This shows us in the picture that one is lifted above the failure of the whole when Christ and His work for God are placed before the heart. Confession of sin in the light of Christ’s offering is the basis for God to pass over the sin of His people.

By the time the evening sacrifice is brought, Ezra rises up out of humiliation (Ezra 9:5). He has a broken heart because of the sin of the people. He also knows where only help can be found. The evening offering is the only ground on which God can endure the unfaithfulness of His people. The evening offering speaks of the offering of Christ, Who at the time of the evening offering, the third hour, received no answer from God because He was made sin (2Cor 5:21). Because He received no answer, God can answer Elijah and Daniel and Ezra to their prayers.

The noun “ humiliation” appears in the Bible only here with Ezra. It is the expression of experiencing evil in God’s people in a way that is consistent with Who God is. Someone who feels evil in this way can be used by God as His instrument for the benefit of His people. In that mind Ezra bows his knees and spreads his hands unto the LORD his God to pray for the people. What a moving example for us! How far we often are from that. May it be our desire to become more like Ezra in this.