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Ezra 9 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
This chapter is a perfect example of why context is so important when reading Scripture. The Israelites have already been through the humiliation and anguish and being exiled. The reason for this exile, very simply, was their compromise with sin. Most notably of that compromise was the constant mingling with other nations and adopting foreign gods. We may look at God’s commandment not to intermarry as overbearing and strict, however, the Israelites proved the commandment to be necessary by continually leading the nation astray through this very act. Now, after all they have been through, history repeats itself.
Their story is our story. The culture is different, but the offense is the same. In our day, we fight a daily battle to go back to the sins that led us astray before we met Christ. Even though we have experienced freedom and deliverance eternally, we continue to live in the temporary tension of a fallen world. Like Israel, we so quickly forget how much emptiness was brought on by our past life of sinful pursuit. Maybe you are struggling right now? Maybe this is what you are currently living?
It’s a terrible place to be. What do we do when we reach this place? Let’s look at how Ezra responds.
and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.
Ezra 9:6 NASB
“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 NASB
Humility. Repentance. Sorrow.
This is the response of Ezra. His heart is broken. He knows they don’t deserve God’s grace. He knows they have gone back on their word. He knows that they have backtracked to what destroyed them in the first place. So, he comes fully acknowledging their guilt, and asking for God’s grace. He comes before the Lord with honest confession. He doesn’t try and cover it, or minimize it, or even fix it!
He owns it. Did you catch that? Let’s hear it again. He. Owned. The. Sin.
How many Christians today will not own their sin? I’m sure you know a few. God’s heart loves humility.
“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:13-14 NASB