Ezra 9 WE CANNOT STAND BEFORE THEE The belittling of sin that is happening today is nothing new. All around us is the world system, including governments of nations, deal with the declining morals and departure from righteousness by changing the laws instead of facing and dealing with the problem. This happened in Israel and was accepted as normal among the general population. But when it happens to the people of God, there are steps that need to be taken. The problem then and now, is a spiritual one, not one of prejudice. The intermarriages led the Lord's people into idolatry, and that rejection of God and His word is why this affected Ezra so greatly. It does the same today to those who understand the dangers associated with unequal yokes.
The people of Israel had become used to the sinful lifestyle of those who shared the land with them. The list of tribes indicates the driving out of the pagan idolaters had never been completely done. When Israel was taken captive, other people were moved into the northern part of Israel by the Assyrians, and 150 years later when the people of Judah were taken to Babylon, some were left behind to keep the land. Sixty or so years before Ezra came the temple was rebuilt under the leadership of Zerrubbabel and Jeshua. However, it wasn't long until even the returnees got used to temple worship and were attracted to pagan women.
When two people of different religions marry, it is not long before a man will follow his wife's persuasion in order to live in peace. That happened in the past and it happens now. Promising young Christians who in their teen years had a desire for the things of God, when they meet attractive people in college, university or the work-place, fall under the subtlety of temptation and turn away from the Lord.
It was likely that Ezra's commitment to, and understanding of, the word of God became well known. He would have taught the people for about four months before the awakened consciences of the leaders of the people moved them to tell Ezra about this very serious problem. Priests and Levites as well as the rank and file of people were intermarrying with idolaters. This sinful practice had become common-place and accepted. The people they were marrying were enemies of the people of God. We may fall into the trap of tolerance of evil and hardly realize the consequences of that attitude until it is too late to change the inevitable outcome.
This same problem has plagued the people of God all down through the ages. Solomon, in spite of his God- given wisdom, fell into the trap of loving "strange women," and even marrying the daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt and building a place for her to practice idolatry. There is a strange notion among many who profess to be saved, that we should not "come out from among them, and ye separate," but rather a spirit of tolerance and kindness to accept any person who says they believe in God. Some will even say Allah of the Muslims is the same as the God of the Bible.
Those who teach that we can earn our own salvation by "doing the best we can," or other human efforts, do not understand who God is. Others will demean the Holy Spirit and say He is merely an influence. The counterfeit Christianity of our day is a form of idolatry in that it reduces God in their mind to a personage of their own definition. They accept their own definition of God, "I believe that God is ..." has made him out to be a god of their own imagination.
Such people would have considered Ezra a fanatic to take such a serious view of a common practice. He was stunned and appalled to the extent that he sat down where he was, tore open his priestly garment and the outer clothes he was wearing, and pulled hair from his face and head as a testimony of his broken heart and humility. This display of remorse, guilt and humiliation would have affected others who saw him and they likely would have said, "What's wrong with him? Who died? Why is he so shook up?"
It is possible for people to get so used to sin that they don't even recognize it as sin. The wide-spread practice of abortion, the increasing acceptance of euthanasia, the fact that nearly half of the population has been divorced or are living with people to whom they are not married, or cohabiting with a person of the same sex is now accepted social practice. To speak against those sins leaves one open to attacks by the ungodly who reject the standards of the Bible as being relevant to us in this day.
The prayer of Ezra, and the obvious anxiety he showed, would have been something even the returned exiles had not seen. There was sorrow for sin and open confession of the seriousness of sin. Sin had a bad effect on other people, and obviously affected Ezra even though he was not involved in the same practice. The open sin of others causes sadness and humiliation in those who live godly righteous lives. Mockery and charges of intolerance are heaped upon those who will not be involved in or acceptant of, the sins of others. It is quite easy for some to think that sin has no consequences, but a true believer understands the seriousness of sin and our need as a people of the mercy of God to spare us.
When Ezra prayed openly it was at the same time as the evening sacrifice was offered. This would have had some significance to those who understood the value of a sinless innocent substitute for the guilty. On his knees with outstretched arms, those watching Ezra became conscious of the evil to which they had become accustomed. Those who gathered around and were watching him and listening to the words of his prayer, were awakened in their consciences. True confession of sin involves understanding the holiness of God and a real view of the awfulness of sin. This intercessor identified himself with the nation as one of citizens who had sinned in a corporate sense. He recognized their only hope for survival as the people of God lay in God's heart of love, grace and mercy.
Confession involves facing up to what caused the sin in the first place. It involves being willing to state the actual sin, the consequences of sin, and the need to forsake it. It includes the acknowledgement that God has the right to punish sin and is doing the right when He does. An appeal to God's mercy and the assurance of His word of forgiveness when the sin has been dealt with and forsaken by the offender, gives rest to the soul. There are often residual effects that will stay with us and keep us from the joy we long for. Some things we have done cannot be undone because it has affected other people negatively and permanently.
To trace the ways of God with us in the past, often helps us to seek the confidence and peace that was lost as a result of sin. Looking back, we are made to remember all the way by which God has led us. The evidence of divine love toward us and the grace that has provided for us is a way to begin recovery to fellowship with God. By our knowledge of the scripture and awareness of both the dealings of God with us and the consequences of sin, we align ourselves with the righteous acts of God. It is a sensible thing to stop and "take stock" of who we are, what we have done, and "what doth God require of thee."
A burden on the part of an intercessor will soon lead that person to understand the solution to the problem sin causes. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." To correct what is wrong and that which is right can be costly and painful. But forgiveness and forsaking of sin go together. Obedience to God and blessing from God go together. Blessings from God and godliness on the part of a believer go together. Prayer and responsive action go together.
Ezra knew God personally and had learned from Him that which was needed for God to act as a righteous God when people sin. He knew God had the right to cast them off because of His righteous justice. But because of His mercy, when there is repentance for sin and faith in His divine provision by grace that becomes real to us by faith, then we can be restored to fellowship and communion with God.