ezra 9:1 15 · was ezra’s mission and persian government appointed role in returning to...
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“SacredMarriage”Ezra9:1-15
MessagebyMichaelJ.Barnard July31,2016TeachingAim:ToexaminethereactionofEzraashelearnedoftheheinoussinmanyJewswerecommittinginJudea.TorealizetheseJewswereviolatingtheLawofGodwhichhadwarnedthemnottointermarrywiththeunbelievingpagansoftheland.Toagreethereasonforsuchacommandwastoprotectthepeoplespiritually.TounderstandmanyChristiansarestillstrugglingwiththissameissueinourownculturetoday!
DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD’S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) PartI:ManyinJudeaviolatethewarningsofGod’sLawregardingintermarriagewithpaganunbelieversandEzra’sreactiontothisnews(Ezra9:1-4)1.WhatwasEzrareferringtowhenhesaidinverse1,“Whenthesethingsweredone…”?Whatthings?(SeeEzra8:31-36)HowlonghadelapsedsinceEzraandhissmallgroupofreturningexileshadreturnedJerusalem?(SeeEzra7:8-10;10:9)WhathadEzrabeendoinginthemonthsleadinguptothisevent?(SeeEzra8:36)AccordingtoEzra7:10,24-26,whatwasEzra’smissionandPersiangovernmentappointedroleinreturningtoJerusalem?
2. AtthispointEzrawasthechiefreligiousleaderinthelandandPersianjudicialrepresentativeregardingJewishaffairs.WhoapproachedEzranotifyinghimthattherewasamajorproblemamongmanyJewishpeople(vs.1)?Accordingtothese“leaders”,whatsinwasbeingcommittedinopendefiancetotheLawofGod?Wasthissinlimitedtothecommonpeople,orweretheleadershipandpriestsinvolvedaswell?Whyisitespeciallydangerouswhenleadershipislivinginopensin?
3. Whateightnationsarementionedinverse1ascommitting“abominations”?Whatisan“abomination”?(SeeDictionary)WherehaveweseenthesenationsmentionedbeforeinScripture?(SeeDeut.20:16-18)WhatstartlingcommanddidGodgivetotheJewsinDeut.20:16-18?Doesthisshockyou?WhydidGodissuethiscommand?Wasthisacommandforalltime,orwasitaone-timethingforthatspecificgeneration?Why?(SeeLuke6:27)
4. TheLawofMosesclearlycommandedtheJewishpeoplenottotakewivesofotherfaiths.(SeeDeut.7:2-4)Whynottrytoconvertthem?Accordingtoverse2,whatweretheJewishpeopledoinginlargenumbers?Inlightofverse2b,whowasdirectlyresponsibleforleadingthepeopleastray?DoyouthinktheseindividualsweretheexilesthatreturnedwithEzra4monthsearlier,orweretheythedescendantsofthosewhohadreturnedwithZerubabbelandJeshuatheHighPriest80-yearsearlier?
5. HowdidEzrarespondwhenheheardthetroublingnews(vs.3)?Why?WhatwasthesignificanceofEzratearinghisrobeandpluckingoutsomeofthehaironhisheadandbeard?Afterthisdisplayofextremegrief,whatdidEzrado?Haveyoueverfeltthiswayinyourownlife,likepullingoutyourhair?HowdidNehemiahrespondinasimilarsituationafewyearslater?(SeeNeh.13:25)
PartII:Ezra’spourshisheartoutinprayertoGod(Ezra9:4-12)1. Accordingtoverse4,hadallthepeoplegoneastray,orwastherestillafaithfulremnantinJudea?WithsomanyChristiansgoingastraytoday,istherestillafaithfulremnanttobefoundinourgeneration?HowshouldweasChristiansfeelwhenweseealloftheopenanddefiantsinofourownculture?Whatcanwedo?
2. HowlongdoyouthinkEzrasatdowninastonishmentanddisbelief?(Seevv.3b,4b)Haveyoueverfeltthisway?WhydidthefaithfulleadersinJudahtremble?Whydoyouthinkmorepeopleinournationdon’tfearthewrathofGodtoday?(SeeRom.2:5-9)ShouldwefearGod’swrathasanation?Howaboutasindividuals?
3.WhendidEzrafinallystopfasting(vs.5)?Ratherthanimmediatelyoffertheeveningsacrifices,whatdidEzradoinlightoftheblatantsinofthenation?Howmanyappropriateposturesofprayercanyouthinkof?Accordingtoverse6,howashamedwasEzraofwhatthesinningJewshaddone?Hasanyoneevershamedyoupersonally,orshamedyourfamilybythesintheyhavecommitted?Howdidyoureact?Accordingtoverse6b,howgreatwasthesinofJudahatthetimeEzraintervened?
4.HowlonghadtheJewishpeopleconsistentlysinnedagainstGod(vs.7)?Whathadresultedfromtheirprevioussin(vs.7b)?Followingthedeath,destructionandsufferingthatcameasaresult,hadtheJewslearnedanything?HavetheJewslivingtodaylearnedtheirlessonyet?(SeeIsa.6:9)Haveyoueverdealtwithsomeone(perhapsafriendorfamilymember)whoselifewasamessbecausetheychosetoliveinalifestyleofsin?Howdidtheirsinaffectyourfamilyandeventhosearoundthem?
5. Accordingtoverse8,howhadGodjustrecentlydemonstratedhisgracetotheJewishpeople?WhatdoesitmeanfortheJewishpeopletohave“apeginHisholyplace”?(SeeCommentaries)WhathasGoddoneto“enlightenoureyes”today?(SeeJohn3:3)
6. Althoughslaves,howdidGodextendHismercytotheJews(vs.9)?WhichfivePersiankingsdidGodtouchtheirheartssothattheyhelpedtheJewishpeople?(SeeCommentaries)InwhatwaydidtheyhelptheJewishpeople?Wasthewallspokenofinverse9aliteralwall,orwasEzraspeakingsymbolically?
7.DidEzratrytodefendtheactionsofhispeopleinanyway(vs.10)?Whyorwhynot?AccordingtoEzra,whathadtheJewsdone(vs.10b)?
8. Accordingtoverses11and12,whatcriticalwarningshadbeengiventotheJewishpeoplebeforetheyenteredthePromisedLand?WhywerethesewarningsgivenbyGod?DidtheJewishpeoplelistentoGod?Aretheylisteningtoday?Whydoyouthinksomanypeopletodaydon’tlistentothewarningsofGodfoundinHolyScripture?
PartIII:EzraacknowledgesGod’srighteousnessandpleadsforHismercy(Ezra9:13-15)1.JudahandBenjaminhadjustcomeoutofahorrific70-yearBabyloniancaptivity,andthe10northerntribesofIsraelweregone,dispersedthroughouttheworld(eventothisday).HowdidEzrafeelaboutthepunishmentthatGodpouredoutontheJews(vs.13)?DoesthisimplythateveninthetimeofGod’swrath,HeremainedmercifultotheJews?
2. AccordingtoEzra,howdidtheJewsrespondtoGod’skindness(vs14)?WasthecommandagainstintermarriagefortheJewsonly,oristhisawarningforallbelieverstoday?WhatdidtheApostlePaulmeanwhenhesaidin2Cor.6:14,“Donotbeunequallyyokedtogetherwithunbelievers”?Why?Doesthispassagereferjusttomarriage,ordoesitapplytoallareasoflife?IthasbeensaidthatasChristianswearetobeintheworld,butnotoftheworld.Whatdoesthisstatementmeantoyou?
3. HowshouldChristiansrespondiftheyarealreadymarriedtoanunbeliever?(See1Cor.7:10-16)Accordingto1Cor.7:14,whyisitsoimportantforthebelievingspousetostayinamarriagewithanunbelievingpartner?Whatoptiondoyouhaveiftheunbelievingspousewalksoutonyou?MarriagedoneGod’swayisonemanwithonewomenforonelifetime.Accordingto1Cor.7:39,howlongdoesGodexpectthemarriagevowstolast?(SeeMatt.5:31-32)
4.GodisarighteousandjustGod.HowangrydidEzraindicateGodwouldbejustifiedtobeinlightofthislatestsinbytheJews(vs.14b)?Ezraacknowledgedthe“righteousness”ofGodinverse15,whatdoestheword“righteous”mean?(SeeDictionary)InlightoftheobviousguiltofJudea,theonlythingEzracoulddowaspleadforGod’smercy.HowshouldweasChristiansrespondtotheabundantsinbeingcommittedbyourowncountrytoday?(See2Chron.7:14)
5.WhatpracticalapplicationscanwepickupfromEzrachapter9?1.2.3.4.5.
MINER’SCORNER~Mannatoliveby!●WeviolateGod’slawandaskfortroublewhenwemarrypeoplewhodon’tshareourfaithintheLord!
●ThereisagreaterchanceyourunbelievingspousewillnegativelyimpactyourwalkwiththeLordthanthatyouwillleadhimorhertofollowChrist!
●Thereisagoodchanceyourunbelievingspousewillpassonthatspiritofunbelieftoyourchildrenandgrandchildren!
• TheApostlePaulwarnsusforgoodreasonnottobe“unequallyyokedtogetherwithunbelievers”,thisincludesinallareasoflife!
• God’sintentforthemarriagerelationshipisonemanandonewomanforonelifetime!• Ezraconfessedthesinofhisnationasifitwerehisown,andsoshouldwe!• LikeEzra,weshouldacknowledgeGod’srighteousnessandpleadforhismercywhilethereis
stilltimeforournationtorepent!(2Chron.7:14)