Return from Exile: Ezra 7-10 (5)

Pray Psalm 40.4, 5
Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust,
And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.

Sing Psalm 40.4, 5.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
Blessed are all who trust in You, turning both from lies and pride.
Countless wonders, Lord, You do, and Your thoughts with us abide.
Lord, Your worth who can declare? None with You can e’er compare.

Read Ezra 9.1-15; meditate on verse 4-9.

Preparation
1. What problem was brought to Ezra’s attention?

2. How did Ezra describe the people who were guilty?

Meditation
Who were these people who had intermarried with pagans? People up and down the social scale of Jerusalem—everyday Joes, priests, Levites. They were all the same people who had just celebrated before the Lord and made offerings to Him! And the rulers of the people—the judges who were supposed to help them live within the Law of God—were the chief offenders (v. 2)!

Ezra made it clear this would not do (v. 3). The people of Israel were captive still (v. 4)—to their own desires and comforts and convenience. They built the temple and worshipped God, but they had forsaken His Law and given in to the lusts of the flesh (vv. 5-7). They needed revival (v. 8), and only God could give it to them. They were no better off than those who had sinned and been taken captive by foreign nations. And even though God had delivered a remnant and given them “a peg in His holy place” (v. 8), still they turned from His Law and enslaved themselves to the flesh.

Ezra confessed on behalf of all the people, including himself among those in need of repentance (v. 15). He had not married a pagan wife, but he was one with the people of God and took their sins upon himself. Ezra thus serves as a type of Christ by bearing the sins of God’s people upon himself and seeking mercy and revival for them.

People who are captive to sin deceive themselves into thinking their worship is acceptable to God. It is not. Our captive churches today need repentance from sin and the mercy of God to revive us, lest we be consumed by His wrath (v. 14).

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them, nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son” (Deut. 7.2, 3).
And the reason for this mandate? “…lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the LORD your God” (Deut. 20.18).

Those were the standards God set down for His people. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. No equivocating, no extenuating circumstances, no pragmatic needs were a cause to disobey God’s laws.

Well, hmmm. If we should put onto the scales of justice, God’s Law on one side, and our behaviors (personal and communal) on the other, which way would it fall for us today? Would it just completely topple over? Would we tremble and be astonished at our shortcomings and overt sins? (Ezra 9.3, 4) Would we confess our sins? Would we be too ashamed and humiliated to lift up our faces to God? (Ezra 9.6) Or would we just go merrily on our way thinking God is surely different now than He was then? After all, there’s grace and all that.

And yes, thank you God, grace is a thing, and without it we could not be saved (Eph. 2.8, 9). But we dare not ever ignore His Law, mistakenly thinking that He and His rules have changed. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13.8). “For I am the LORD, I do not change…” (Mal. 3.6).

Unless we are standing firm in our faith, daily in God’s Word, confessing our sins, and walking intentionally in the way that pleases God, we will assuredly find ourselves captive to the enemy in one way or another.
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Cor. 10.12 NIV)

Every day we must dress for the battle, resisting the enemy who longs to captivate us, and step out protected and ready to serve. “But to do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval. Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes. Plead with Him, reminding Him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere” (Eph. 6.14-18 TLB).

Doing this will determine our pathway. He will enable us to not be carried away captive now or in the future. Even if we have been captives in the past, God is a God of new beginnings (Lam. 3.21-24) and will strengthen us to do His Law and His will, whenever we beseech Him honestly and humbly to do so.

Carried away captive to Him.

For reflection
1. What do you see as evidence that many believers today are more captive to the culture than the Lord?

2. Do you see any of these tendencies in yourself? What should you do if you do see yourself this way?

3. What is your responsibility to your fellow believers to help them keep from falling into captivity to the culture and the times?

There is not a surer or sadder presage of ruin, than turning to sin, after great judgments, and great deliverances. Every one in the church of God, has to wonder that he has not wearied out the Lord’s patience, and brought destruction upon himself. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ezra 9.5-15

Pray Psalm 40.1-4, 6-10.
Confess your sins to the Lord and call on Him to set your feet firmly in His path. Offer up your day to the Lord and trust in Him to keep you from sin, guide you in His way, and hide His Word in your heart. Be ready to talk to people about Jesus as the Lord gives opportunity.

Sing Psalm 40.1-4, 6-10.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
I waited patiently for God; He inclined and heard my cry,
lifted me up above the sod, set me on a Rock on high!
New songs in my mouth He gave; may He through me many save.

Off’rings You do not require—open now my ears, O Lord.
What from me do You desire? Firm delight to do Your Word.
Take my life in ev’ry part; write Your Law upon my heart.

Lord, Your truth will I proclaim to Your people gathered ‘round,
nor will I my lips restrain—let Your precious ways resound!
Of Your saving grace and Word I would speak, most loving Lord.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.