“Grace for the Downfalls”

INTRODUCTION.

Deuteronomy - 1410 B.C.

Ezra - 450-444 B.C.

Postexilic period. (Return to Jerusalem after 70 years of being exiled to Babylon.

Israel and Judah had both been taken in to exile for there refusal to obey God.

God had ordered them not to intermarry with the people that lived in the land that God was giving to Israel.

they did not listen and intermarried with them and began to be unfaithful to God and worship other gods.

Chapters 1-6 deal with the first group returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple and the altar.

Chapters 7-10 deal with the second group returning to Jerusalem.

Ezra’s prayerful response to the leaders’ indictment of the people reflects a key aspect of God’s nature. God is both just, therefore judging sin, and merciful, therefore forgiving sin.

Big Idea: There is a need for confession and remorse in order to experience God’s promised restoration.

Ezra 9:1–4 NASB95

1 Now when these things had been completed, the princes approached me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, according to their abominations, those of 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 as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.” 3 When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled. 4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering.

MESSAGE.

9:1 “These things completed” - The return of the 2nd group of exiles, and bringing all the silver and gold and utensils to the temple. The offering of burnt offerings to God.

I. EZRA ACKNOWLEDGED THE DOWNFALL.

Those involved in the downfall.

The people of Israel.

The priest.

The Levites. (those who worked in the temple with the priest.)

1. God used the princes to make Ezra aware of the downfall. (1)

The princes =

elders

officials

probably family leaders of the descendants of the those who were in the first group to return.

2. The downfall. (2)

Intermarrying.

Unfaithfulness to God.

Disobedience.

Sacrificing to idols.

Worshiping idols (and other gods).

Becoming like the culture around them.

Holy race

Set aside for God.

Used to draw other nations to God.

The nation that would produce Jesus Christ.

3. Ezra’s Disgust at the downfall. (3)

Ezra was not just sorrowful, he was appalled.

He was heart broken.

Ezra tore his garment and robe,

Sign of mourning or repentance.

Sign of deep sorrow. (2 Samuel - David tore his clothes when he heard the news of Absalom murdering his brothers.)

Act of indignation. Matt 26. High priest tore his clothes when Jesus spoke, he thought it was blasphemy. (The Lexham Bible Dictionary)

pulled hair from head and beard. (look up custom)

Tearing one’s hair out was a sign of grief. (Logos Factbook)

an acknowledgment of the acceptance of pain and suffering. (Logos Factbook)

II. EZRA REPENTED OF THE DOWNFALL.

1. Ezra’s humility. (5)

Ezra fell on his knees

Stretched out his hands.

2. Ezra’s Confession. (6-7)

Ezra acknowledge the sin before God.

Agreeing with God that what you have done is wrong.

Specific confession (10-12)

3. The Community effect of sin.

CONCLUSION.

Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther Teaching the Text

Our current culture tends toward an approach to repentance that advocates “saying sorry” to God and trying (at least for a while) not to repeat the particular sin. The truth is that without an understanding of the seriousness of sin that affects us on an emotional level, we are unlikely to be truly repentant and may be unable to receive full reconciliation with God.

III. Specific Order not just any order.

Combination to lock. - read illustration - Teaching the Text Commentary.

1. We must acknowledge our sin.

2. We must confess our sin.

3. God will forgive us our sin.