A Spiritual Guide

True Repentance 06.05.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Thursday June 5, 2008 and today we are completing our studies on the book of Ezra. Please read Chapters 8-10 in your Bible or Click Here to read. biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%208-10&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the Genealogy of Ezra’s companions; Ezra proclaiming a fast; the treasures that are delivered to the priests; Ezra’s prayer and confession, and foreign wives and children. Today’s message focuses on the importance of understanding that true repentance restores our relationship with God.

Ezra knew the Scriptures and decided to be responsible for leading perhaps five thousand men, women, and children on the treacherous, possibly 800-mile journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. “These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.” (Ezra 8:1). It would have been easier to remain in Babylon and just pray for the people in Jerusalem. But Ezra decided to do what he could. During their journey Ezra proclaims a fast for their protection, “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.” (8:21-23).

Ezra and all his followers arrived safely in Jerusalem about four months after leaving Babylon. However,  Ezra was grief stricken upon hearing about the low moral and spiritual state of affairs in Jerusalem since the Temple had been rebuilt. “Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.” (9:1-2).

He did not say: “It’s not my problem, so I’ll leave it up to someone else.” Instead, he became involved and openly mourned and at the evening sacrifice he fell on his knees and spread out his hands to the Lord, and prayed. “And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.” (9:6-7). When the Word of God is neglected and sin abounds, we too need to be as concerned as Ezra and help those who can not help themselves.

As the Israelites listened to Ezra proclaim the Word of God, they were convicted of their sins. One by one, each man who had married a Canaanite had to present himself with his wife and children before a court of the elders of every city, and the judges thereof to determine if they were involved in idol worship or were worshipers of the true God of Israel. “Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.” (10:14).

If the only consideration had been the excommunication of all Canaanite wives, it would have been a simple, immediate decision. But, something more than simple separation was being considered in their courts. There was an examination of each family to determine if the Canaanite wives had forsaken their idols and converted to the One True God of Israel. If these men had led their wives to reject their idols and worship the One True God, their wives would have become Israelites and would not have been called strange wives. This precedent had been set by Joshua when he welcomed and protected Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, who had rejected her idols and sinful life to place her trust in the One True God of Israel. (See Ruth 1). Ruth rejected her people’s idols and became an Israelite. In the providence of God, both she and Rahab became a part of the genealogy of Jesus.

We are prone to underestimate the suffering that results from disobedience to the Word of God. When we choose to follow our flesh and marry strange wives (non-Christians) we are setting ourselves up for heartbreak. While some can be converted to Christianity it is best to make sure that all that is taken care of before getting married. “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:6-9).

Every Christian should realize the vital importance of prayer, whether of repentance, praise, or petition. We should not take God’s protection and blessings for granted. As we pray in faith and receive answers to our prayers, our faith grows and we are encouraged to pray even more and even when we do not recognize any answer to our prayers. No sin is so great but that all God’s love and mercy will be lavished upon the sinner who sincerely repents of his sin. Even if one’s sin is so great as to give great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme as David did. Sincere prayer of repentance restores our relationship with God.

In today’s reading Jesus Christ is revealed through Ezra, who mourned over the sins of the people of Jerusalem (Ezra 9:5). Twice it is recorded that, when Jesus looked upon Jerusalem, He also mourned for the people (Luke 19:41; 13:34).

Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Nothing brings peace more than knowing that we are saved from the penalty of sin and that we are firmly grounded in Your holy precepts. You’re a compassionate, all-powerful, God.  No need in our life is overlooked, overwhelming, or overly difficult for You to meet. You use the good, the bad, and the complex matters that we sort through daily to test our faith and grow our endurance. These challenges that are continually before us compel us to look to the Scriptures for spiritual understanding and sustaining power. I will trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation, in the midst of the wait. My heart seeks after You, my Lord and my God, for You have cared for me all the days of my life and You will continue to do so, for You promise to never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus’ name, I pray……Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day!
God Bless,
Christina

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