LESSON 11
LESSON 11 EZRA 9 : 1 – 10 : 44
As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. —Ezra 9:3
Shortly after arriving in Jerusalem, Ezra learned of a spiritual crisis in Israel. The remnant had not only failed to remain separate from their pagan neighbors, but they had married some of the foreigners. Israel had been called by God to remain separate from the nations around them so that they could be a spiritual light to them. Consequently, when Ezra became aware of this great national sin, he was profoundly grieved. The final two chapters of Ezra address this perilous moment in the history of Israel. READ THE WORD Pray. Take a moment to pray, asking the Lord to prepare your heart and teach you. Ezra 9:1–10:44 9 After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” 3 As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. 4 Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. 5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the L ord my God, 6 saying: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniqui- ties have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 7 From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today. 8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the L ord our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery. 9 For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.
Ezra 9:1–10:44 | 113
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