HOW WE SHOULD DEAL WITH PROBLEMS
WITHIN GOD’S HOLY COMMUNITY (The Church)
Ezra chapters 9 & 10
Pastor David E. Houchin
Delivered 2/25/07 at Church on the Esplanade
Chico, California
Last Sunday, as we entered Lent, Pastor Ed exhorted us to learn about three specific spiritual disciplines: Bible Study, Fasting and Prayer as means to experience the reality of God’s presence in our lives… This week, through God’s serendipity, we see an example of a man who practiced these disciplines and how they impacted his life.
Today we want to consider how we should deal with problems within God’s holy community. Within our context, this means within the church. Problems? In the Church? I hope I am not bursting any bubbles by telling you that as long as a church has people within it, the church will have problems….
In and of themselves, the existence of problems is not a bad thing…. How we handle problems can give either good outcomes – or bad outcomes.
Every problem has a purpose – usually it is give us the opportunity, the chance to choose, to become more like Christ. Sometimes we choose poorly. Sometimes we choose to honor Jesus. What makes the difference?
In the book of Ezra, there is an example of how Ezra and the people of the 5th century BC had a problem, and how they solved it. The NT (2 Tim 3:15-16, NLT) teaches us that “all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us our and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” So, let’s turn to Ezra chapter 9 and see how this passage, written about a problem 2,500 years ago, can teach us today how we should deal with the problems we face within God’s holy community, the church, in our own 21st century.
I think it is useful, before we get to the problem, to understand a little of the background of a key player in our story – the man Ezra. We were introduced to Ezra in chapters 7 and 8 of the Bible book that bears his name. We find that he was a skilled scribe. We find that he was a man who practiced spiritual disciplines:
PRACTICING DISCIPLINES – Examples in the life of Ezra
Experiencing the “gracious hand” of God 7:9b,28; 8:18,31
• Ezra 7:10 _Study_ (2 Tim 2:15) obey – teach.
This is the proper order -- we need to be hearers of the word, and we need to be doers of the word. We need to be those who are busy making disciples as our Lord told us in Matthew 28 – “teaching them to obey all [His] commands”. Learn-live-lead – that is the proper order. It is the order Ezra built into his life. It is the order we need to practice in our own lives. It is the reason that Ezra experienced “the gracious hand of God.”
• Put on the spot for God – 8:22, note Ezra’s “knee jerk” response
Ezra has about 2,000 people + $6mm gold; another $4mm silver. There is so much ‘stuff” that if it was evenly divided among the 2000 people to carry, each person would have to lug 24# of silver & almost 4 pounds of gold! That’s a lot to carry on a 900 miles, 5 month long journey. Think in terms of two 12 pound bowling balls plus 4 more pounds – and all your own “stuff” too!
So Ezra is put on the spot for God. Ezra is “ashamed” to ask for an armed guard – despite 2000 people, despite $6mm in gold, despite $4mm in silver, despite 900 miles of bandit infested desert. Why? Because he had been bragging on God’s ability to protect those who serve Him! He realized – big gulp – the inconsistency of talking about God’s power and might and majesty on one hand, and asking for an armed guard on the other. Are we aware of the inconsistencies within our own “talk” and our “walk”?
In addition to knowing the Word of God, 8:18 tells us that Ezra called on the people to do two things:
o __Fast____
o __Prayer__ The New Living uses the adjective “earnestly” before the word pray. 2,000 people. $6mm gold, $4mm silver, no guards = “earnestly pray”.
It is unlikely this is the first time Ezra had practiced these disciplines – it is his “knee jerk” response to do these two things…. How we respond to life issues are learned responses – they are responses we have had in the past. Ezra’s response here by the canal demonstrates, I believe, what his usual response to life problems. He fasted… and he prayed. These are two neglected disciplines in the church today. They are life responses we ought to be acquainted with. There by the Ahava Canal, the returning Jews learned the power of these two disciplines.
Before I get further sidetracked, we need to look at the events of Ezra within their historical context.
PLACING IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT
• Ezra 1 – 6 _539-516 BC_ Zerubbel comes to Jerusalem and rebuilds the Temple.
• Between Ezra 6 & 7 = Esther events; Buddha dies Confucius dies; Three important Battles of ancient world that began the shift from Persia to western Europe -- (1) Marathon 490 BC Athens’s surprise victory – after battle messenger ran 26 miles to tell Athenian’s they won, then died; (2) Ten years later the Persians were back with an even larger army – altogether about 1.7 million men. Historians talk of the army drying up rivers with their thirst. At the battle of Thermopylae in August 480 BC, 300 Spartans held the pass for three days slaughtering thousands and thousands of Persians. Ultimately the 1.7mm army wins – but at a huge loss of men. And (3) A month later the Athenians win at Salamis and the Persian army never again tries to conquer Greece. It won’t be long before a Greek named Alexander will take the battle to the Persians – and win.
• Ezra 7:1 _ Left Ahava in April -- Arrive Jerusalem Aug 458_
• Ezra 9:1 __Dec___ 458 BC
PARTICULAR ISSUE OF THE 5th Century BC
There was a problem in the holy community, problems come in different sizes and shapes; different issues and individuals. The issue here = marrying pagan women. This is not OUR issue, but we can learn applications from it. First, let us examine why this was an issue for Ezra and the Israelites of the fifth century BC:
• Dt 7:3 (Ex 34:11-16) The practice was clearly forbidden --
• 1 Kgs 11:1-2,4,9-10 and it has gotten them into trouble in the past –> led to idolatry.
• Neh 13:26-27
• 1 Cor 7:10-14 This is clear New Testament teaching for the church, can’t use Ezra story as an excuse for divorce today!
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS TO 21st Century
Every problem has a purpose to develop Christ-like character in us.
1. REACTION TO THE SIN 9:3-4
__Stunned__ -- Ezra _says_ nothing – tears _clothes_ -- pulls out his _hair & beard____ (q.v. Neh 13:25 for a different approach!) “utterly shocked” (v3) “utterly appalled” (v4). Ezra sits and says nothing. For hours. He remains in this silent, disheveled condition until the time of the evening sacrifice. I think sometimes we speak too soon. Sometimes we would be better off if we just sat silently before the Almighty and grieved. Ezra’s second response was that he was…..
__Sorrowful__ “utterly ashamed” (v6) “sins piled higher than our heads… our whole history has been one of great sin.” This isn’t what Ezra was expecting when he left Babylon. Yet this is what he found. He did not try to “sweep it under the carpet”, he didn’t minimize it. Latter on we find that about
__Shaky__ = “trembled at God’s Word” Isa 66:2 / Heb 4:12
“A man’s attitude towards God’s Word is one of the ultimate criteria of his spirituality.” “His Word is His Will.” Martin Luther > “Only show me the Word and the issue is settled.”
2. REVEALING SELF HISTORY 9:5-15 – The Discipline of Confession. 1 Jn 1:9
Note the role that leadership took (9:1; 10:2-4) – the leaders were doing what leaders are supposed to do – they were leading. They pointed out that WE “ignored your commands” NLT, “abandoned your commands” 2eNLT, or as the Message says “For we have thrown your commands to the wind….”
Note, no finger pointing “us” not “them”/ it is “us” not ”you”. How prone we are as leaders, no, how prone we are as people to blame others; blameshifting was man’s first response in the garden: Adam blamed Eve and ignored his own fault.
We believe we are a community – a fellowship. At its most basic level fellowship means we are a bunch of fellows in the same ship. You can’t sink half a ship. It’s all or nothing. And Ezra understands that, it is “us” not “them”, it is “us” not “you”. The New Testament tells us that when one member sins it affects the entire body. We need to have the attitude of Ezra when problems come our way in this congregation. We need to realize it is “us” not “them” where the problem lies.
The Book of Common Prayer Eucharist service begins with the invitation to “Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.” – Together the celebrant and the congregation say out loud together these words:
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Good words. We have sinned, how? “in thought, word and deed” how? “by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.” How? By breaking the greatest commandment! Whoa David, how did you get that? Jesus was asked “what is the most important commandment?” He answered with the words alluded to within this confession, Jesus said, “The most important commandment is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all your mind.” I would suggest to you that the greatest sin is breaking the greatest commandment – what our neighbor did is not as bad as that! And we are confronted with our own guilt, our own failure to meet that commandment in this confession. That is definitely not good news.
BUT, the confession concludes with the spoken word of absolution. The Celebrant says: “Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.” I appreciate that there is that spoken Word reminding me of the forgiveness of God, the mercy of God, the grace of God. But not only forgiveness, but also strength to do right, and the power of God’s blessed Holy Spirit to keep me, to safeguard me, during life’s pilgrim journey.
3. REALIZING TRUTH – the great “BUT NOW” of God’s Truth 9:8
In the midst of this confession we read in verse 8 two tremendous words of God’s Truth: “but now.” God’s “but now” changes everything. Truth has a way of doing that. Of all the voices calling out to me, I choose to listen to the Voice of Truth.
Do you remember the story of the disciples in the boat (Mk 4:35ff)? The waves were threatening to swamp the boat and Jesus was in the back of the boat sound asleep. He wasn’t worried. He wasn’t helping. Jesus was snoozing. They woke him up, “don’t you care that we are perishing?” they asked. But they were never in any danger, Jesus was with them. They only thought they were in trouble. The truth of their situation was different that what they perceived. Truth is a person – Jesus. When Jesus is in the equation, everything is different.
(1) “We have been given a brief moment of grace…” Even though it is brief, God’s brief moment is long enough for us to respond.
We who have received grace ought to be those that give grace.
Today! Ps 95:7
(2) “[God] has given us security in this holy place…”
“security” literally = _”a peg”__ in a wind blown environment – keeps tent from blowing off. Having security, we can extend a helping hand to others. Because we have security, we can risk giving grace to others.
PUTTING TRUTH INTO ACTION 10:2 “…but there is hope…”
• 10:4 – The role of our _pastor_ ”tell us how to proceed in setting things straight – we will cooperate fully.” (v4) – God has given us Pastor Ed to lead us to the green pastures and the still waters. He is God’s under shepherd. We have an obligation to follow his lead. We do not want to be unruly sheep. Note that within this grand pronouncement there is a condition, “according to the Law of God.” We need to be people of the Book. We need to be like the Bereans in the NT story in Acts 17, they listened to Paul eagerly, but they also checked the Scripture to see if “such things were so.” We need to know that when Pastor Ed tells us something and it squares with the Word of God it isn’t just Pastor Ed that’s talking but its God talking through Pastor Ed. And we need to act on it.
That is an awesome burden on our pastor’s shoulders. We therefore need to pray for him, that God the Father Almighty will give him strength and wisdom.
And we need to listen when he tells “us how to proceed in setting things straight” and we need to “cooperate fully”.
• 10:3 – The role of our __mutual commitment / covenant__
Covenants are something we don’t talk much about in our day. In OT times they were very important. In our day marriage is one thing that we in the church still think of as being a covenant. We don’t think marriage is a “contract” where it can be called off if party of the first part is no longer meeting the terms set by party of the second part. We believe marriage is a covenant – a life long commitment to love and honor. The bride and the groom go to a counter, fill out some forms and then sign their names. A little later this same man and woman stand before a minister and repeat vows and witnesses sign their name testifying they heard them; the minister signs his name – and this form then becomes a legal document – signed, sealed and delivered.
In Ezra’s day, the people prepared a covenant – a mutual commitment of what they were going to do. What is God calling you to do today?
□ Maybe it’s salvation – maybe you need to make that decision today that you will follow Jesus, you will receive him as savior today, you will follow his will and his ways. Today, he wants you to confess your sins, and invite him into your life. Is that something you are willing to “sign your name” to this morning?
□ Maybe God has convicted your heart of some outstanding issue between you and your mate, between you and a co-worker, between you and a neighbor, between you and your child, between you and your parent. What is it that God wants you to do? Today he wants you to confess your sins in the matter, and to begin to seek reconciliation and restoration. Is that something you are willing to “sign your name” to this morning.
□ Maybe God has convicted your heart that you are not showing that you love him with all of your heart, all of your strength, all of your might. What is it that God wants you to do? Today he wants you to confess your sin in the matter, and to begin to practice spiritual disciplines that will bring you daily into his presence so you can enjoy him -- and glorify him – day-by-day. He wants you to daily read the Bible, daily pray to him, daily serve him. Is that something you are willing to “sign your name” to this morning.
Whatever the issue is in your life, remember that problems are opportunities for us to develop Christ-likeness. Every problem has a purpose. Everything is “Father-filtered.” What is it that God is trying to accomplish in your life – what aspect is he trying now to chisel away at in order that you might be more like Jesus?
When I read the Bible, I see that people are people, whether they live in the 5th Century BC or the 21st century AD. Look at verse 15: some supported (v15), but some opposed (v15). It is the same today. 2,500 years later we can read the names of those on each side. 2,500 years from now, on which list would you like your name to appear?
Let’s pray.
