Ezra 9:1-15
Q.1. Why was it wrong for the Israelites to intermarry with the people of the land? Was Ezra’s response extreme? What impact did his grief have on others? – (Ezra 9:1-4)
God had placed a special call on Israel from its birth as a nation – For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth (Dt.7:6). God had commanded His people to destroy the nations of the land, and to refuse to intermarry or make a covenant with them – For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you (Dt .7:4). Ezra was devastated to learn that the people had violated God’s command, and that some of the leaders were among the chief offenders (Ezra 9:1-2). Ezra’s response was certainly extreme but revealed his belief that God would carry out His threats. His contrition had a great impact on others who feared God – Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me … (Ezra 7:4). One man’s passion for God spread to others – who trembled at the words of the God of Israel (Ezra 9:4)!
Q.2. How did Ezra interpret the sin of the people? Why was the intermarrying of his people such a concern to Ezra? – (Ezra 9:5-15)
Ezra fell with outstretched hands before God and admitted Israel’s guilt (Ezra 9:5-6). He feared that God would remove them from the land as He had done during the exile (Ezra 9:7). God had extended His mercy to the returning remnant (Ezra 9:8-9). He had made it clear that the enjoyment of His blessing in the land was conditional upon their refusal to embrace the abominations of the nations whom they had dispossessed (Ezra 9:10-12). Ezra feared God’s retribution and appealed to God’s grace and justice – O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this (Ezra 9:15). Ezra was admitting Israel’s disobedience but casting the people on the kindness of God.