Your Grace Response

Read Ezra 9-10
 
Ezra 9:8a, 9 “But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the LORD our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant…9 For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery. Instead, he caused the kings of Persia to treat us favorably. He revived us so we could rebuild the Temple of our God and repair its ruins. He has given us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.”
 
READING these words amid Ezra’s prayer, one would believe all is well in Jerusalem. Unfortunately there is much more to the prayer that expresses deep shame for the sin in Judah. “I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads.” (Ezra 9:6) and “We have abandoned your commands!” (Ezra 9:10)
   Ezra, who has come to teach God’s law in Judah, has learned the men of Israel disregarded God’s lessons. They have not kept themselves separate from the other peoples living in the land. They have taken up the detestable practices of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. (Ezra 9:1-2) Ezra’s praise of God’s grace in his prayer is telling the Jews to wake up! How, he wonders, can they so blatantly disobey God when he has given them so much of himself?
   During our study through the Bible, we have too often seen the grievous results of Israel’s men marrying pagan women. Even before the nation reached the Promised Land, God’s deadly judgment purged such relationships from the camp (Numbers 27). Samson’s and Solomon’s weaknesses very pointedly illustrate this deadly practice corrupted God’s chosen leaders. Those types of marriages led to idolatry, which led to exile. In utter despair, Ezra cries out, “Won’t your anger be enough to destroy us, so that even this little remnant no longer survives?” (Ezra 9:14b)
   But praise God. Ezra 10 reveals something new in Judah. It is called grief, confession and repentance of sin. A very large crowd of people from Israel – men, women, and children – gathered and wept bitterly with him. (Ezra 10:1b) They confessed, “We have been unfaithful to our God. Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. (Ezra 10:2-3) Three months later the leaders began a remarkable process to put their words into action. Then the names of each offender was written for all present and future Jews to know!
   What do you think? Would you like your name written in a book detailing your sins? Is this too harsh? It’s not if you remember the terrible cost of idol worship.
   In truth, your sins will be revealed as you stand before God. But we thank God you can know there is a new covenant truth in Ezra’s praise, “For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery.” We’re more accustomed to hear this in such language as Ephesians 2:4-5 But God was so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
   What do you think? Surely we should be committed to God to live fully in his law. Daily in your prayers and conversations express gratitude God has saved you. Live right. Love the LORD and his Word. You will be sure to rejoice forevermore when your name is written in the Book of Life.