The Book of Ezra
Study #16
(Ezra 9:6-15)
Response to Sin
(Part II: The Intercession of the Priest)
INTRODUCTION:
• By the time we come to Ezra chapters 7 -10, we must reorient ourselves as to what is the situation of the Jews.
• By the time we come to chapter 7 ...
▸ It has been nearly 80 years since Cyrus allowed Zerubbabel to return (538 b.c.).
▸ We remember that Zerubbabel’s purpose was to rebuild the temple.
▸ That has now been done for a long time.
▸ Generations have been born and brought up never having seen Babylon.
▸ The people are cold and have drifted from the Lord and his Word.
▸ Ezra, through miraculous circumstances, is allowed to go back to Jerusalem.
▸ His purpose is to minister to the people of Judah.
• When Ezra returns in 458 b.c., the king has decreed that all temple expenses will be covered by the government of Transeuprhates.
• Sadly, while God has arranged for their every need, the people have not prepared their hearts.
• The leaders come to inform Ezra that the people have taken on the characteristics of the surrounding nations and have even intermarried with them.
• And it was not merely some of the people, it was the LEADERSHIP in large numbers.
• Let’s look back at last week’s text:
Ezra 9:1-5 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. 2 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. 3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. 4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. 5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,
♬ Where could I go?
Ezra Acknowledges 2 Things: First he acknowledges ...
I. The Guilt of the People (6-7; 10-15)
A. Their Past Failures (6-7)
1. The Shame (6A; Gen. 3:10; Pr. 13:18; Ps. 83:16)
[6] And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God:
• Not only has American society lost its ability to blush, but the American church has lost her ability to blush!
Genesis 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Proverbs 13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Psalms 83:16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
2. The Sins (6B-7)
(6B)for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. [7] Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day;
• Their sins have gotten out of control - over our head.
• Their sins have gotten past concealment - grown up unto the heavens.
3. The Sufferings (7B)
(7B) 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.
B. Our Present Failures (10-15)
1. The Defiance of the Prohibitions (10-12)
a. Ignoring the Word (10)
[10] And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
• Repeatedly in the Scriptures, in book after book, during generation after generation, God holds His people accountable for their conformity to His Word!
1) Solomon (Pr. 28:7,9) NOTE: This section of Solomon’s saying collected by Hezekiah.
Proverbs 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
2) Jeremiah (6:10,19) HEAR THE WORDS OF THE WEEPING PROPHET.
Jeremiah 6:10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
3) Christ (Jn. 15:10) HEAR THE WORDS OF OUR SAVIOR.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
b. Ignoring the Witness (11a; Lk. 20)
[11a] Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets,
• Wouldn’t it be great if God’s messages to us came in a shrink wrapped box complete with the Microsoft seal of authenticity.
• But it doesn’t.
• It comes through the most aggravating and troublesome vehicle possible.
• It comes through preachers that are very human.
• I’m sure I aggravate and annoy you at times.
• All of my life my preachers have aggravated and annoyed me at times.
• But they were still my preacher, and I listened to them.
• And I’m still your preacher.
• You cannot ignore the witness!
OPTIONAL FROM THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD.
Luke 20:9-16 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. 11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. 14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
c. Ignoring the Warnings (1b1-12)
Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
1) The Place Described (11b)
[11b] saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
• Why is it that we cannot believe that the world is bad.
• If we do, we are naive.
2) The Precept Decreed (12)
[12] Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever:
• We saw in our last message the clear prohibition against mixed marriages.
3) The Promises Dependent (12b; 1 Jn. 3:21-22)
[12b] that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
• God wants His children to have the best.
• To do so requires obedience.
1 John 3:21-22 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
2. The Danger of Presumption (11-15)
He prays that the people will remember 2 great truths:
a. Remember the Vindication of God (13-14; Gal. 6:7-8; Rom. 2:1-13)
[13] And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this; [14] Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
• God will vindicate His Word!
• Paul deals with this subject extensively in Galatians and Romans.
Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 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.
Romans 2:1-13 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
b. Remember the Vision of God (15; Heb. 4:13; Pr. 5:21; 15:3; Jer. 23:24; 1 Cor. 4:5)
[15] O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.
Jeremiah 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
1 Cor. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: ...
II. The Goodness of God (8-9)
A. The Pictures of God’s Goodness (8)
• Ezra uses four images to reveal the fragile nature of their position.
[8] And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
1. The Little Space (Rev. 2:21; James 4:13-15)
Revelation 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
James 4:13-15 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
2. The Little Remnant (1 Kings 11:29-33)
• In His grace, God had preserved a remnant, like a piece of cloth torn from a robe and kept safe (see I Kings 11:26-40).
1 Kings 11:29-33 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: 30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: 31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: 32 (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) 33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
• Throughout Jewish history, even when the nation turned from God, He always preserved a remnant that remained faithful to Him (1 Kings 19:18; Isa. 1:9; Mal. 3:16-17; Luke 2:38);
• and from that remnant, He made a new beginning. (Wiersbe)
3. The Little Nail
• The nail speaks of an anchor, a foothold in the favor of God.
• It is not a pedestal or an anchor, but just a little nail.
• Nevertheless, though it be little, at least we have that.
• But we must understand how fragile a thing our blessings are.
• The can be, indeed they often have been, taken away.
4. The Little Reviving
ILLUS: I have seen the showers of blessings. But I am afraid we are not seeing much of that today. But we are receiving sprinkles of blessings. But I sense in my soul that the sky is clouding. The rain may be coming. Satan is certainly fighting.
• Each of these images reveals the fleeting nature of the opportunities that God gives us.
B. The Proof of God’s Goodness (9)
[9] For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
Lament. 3:22-23 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
♬ Great is Thy Faithfulness.
CONCLUSION:
• After learning about the sins of the people, Ezra fell to his knees in prayer.
• His heartfelt prayer provides a good perspective on sin.
• He recognized:
(1) that sin is serious (Ezra 9:6);
(2) that no one sins without affecting others (Ezra 9:7);
(3) that he was not sinless, although he didn’t have a pagan wife (Ezra 9:10ff);
(4) that God’s love and mercy had spared the nation when they did nothing to deserve it (Ezra 9:8-9, 15).
• It is easy to view sin lightly in a world that sees sin as inconsequential, but we should view sin as seriously as Ezra did. (LAB)
• When we see those around us in sin, we must fall on our knees as did Ezra!
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
