Ezr 10:2 | MHM | STEP | v. 2 : In the middle of the crowd, Shechaniah, one of Ezra’s companions from Babylon (Ezra 8:3,5 ), stood up and spoke. He admitted the nation’s guilt, saying, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives . Even though his own family was involved, Shechaniah did not try to excuse the sin. He included himself with the guilty, showing true humility and honesty (Deuteronomy 33:9 ). Shechaniah also encouraged the people not to lose hope. He said, Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing (Ezra 10:2 ). Even though their sin was serious, it was not too late to change. If they truly repented and took steps to fix the problem, God could forgive them. The Bible says, The valley of Achor is a door of hope (Hosea 2:15 ). When we are troubled by our sin and want to change, there is always hope with God (Ephesians 2:12 ).

‏ Ezra 10:2

v. 2: In the middle of the crowd, Shechaniah, one of Ezra’s companions from Babylon (Ezra 8:3,5 ^a), stood up and spoke. He admitted the nation’s guilt, saying, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives . Even though his own family was involved, Shechaniah did not try to excuse the sin. He included himself with the guilty, showing true humility and honesty (Deuteronomy 33:9 ^b).

Shechaniah also encouraged the people not to lose hope. He said, Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing (Ezra 10:2 ^c). Even though their sin was serious, it was not too late to change. If they truly repented and took steps to fix the problem, God could forgive them. The Bible says, The valley of Achor is a door of hope (Hosea 2:15 ^d). When we are troubled by our sin and want to change, there is always hope with God (Ephesians 2:12 ^e).