YET NOW THERE IS HOPE
Ezra 10
Text: Ezra 10:2
Ezra 10:2
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
Introduction:
No doubt Ezra experienced great joy and satisfaction when he found himself worshiping in the restored
Temple and ministering to the spiritual needs of the
people of the people.
Not long after the completion of the completion of the Temple he learns that all wasn’t well because many had deliberately disobeyed the command of God.
How Ezra faced this troubling problem and solved it is an example for any Christian today who takes seriously God’s repeated command.
Leviticus 11:44-45
For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [45] For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Psalm 86:2
Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.
1 Peter 1:16
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1. CONTAMINATION – A SINFUL PEOPLE (EZRA 9:1-2)
A. Disobedience (vs 1)
B. Defilement (vs 2)
2. CONCERN – A PRIVILEGED PEOPLE (EZRA 9:3-15)
A. We have sinned (vs 5-7)
B. We are unworthy (8-9)
C. We are guilty (13-15)
3. COOPERATION – A WILLING PEOPLE (EZRA 10:1-8)
2 Chron. 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
When God’s people obey God’s Word by humbling themselves, praying and seeking the Lord’s face, tuen from their wicked ways –there is hope!
Ezra 10:2
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
Remember:
Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Notice here there
A. Confession (vs 2) – (trespassed and taken)
B. Covenant (vs 3) – (let us make a covenant)
C. Commitment (vs 4) – (we also will be with thee, be of good courage, and do it.)
4. CLEANSING – AN OBEDIENT PEOPLE (EZRA 10:9-44)
Note the dedication of these people. (vs 9)
Ezra 10:9
Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
A. Resolve (vs 11)
B. Removal (vs 11)
Ezra 10:11
Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
Close:
Our only hope is in God. That hope comes as we acknowledge our condition, humble ourselves, pray and seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways. Only then God says He will hear from Heaven and will forgive our sin and heal our land.
May God’s Word and His Spirit move us to this place.
