Ezra 9: 5-9

Tyler Hullinger

Sermon • Submitted 10 months ago • Presented 10 months ago

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Transcript

Passage

Ezra 9:5–9 (NASB95)

But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God;

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.

“Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of 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 and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day.

“But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.

“For we are slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to raise up the house of our God, to restore its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

Praying through it with scripture

Praying through it over these months, this is what the Lord has been speaking to me:

Confession of Sin

An admission of sin on the part of individuals or groups of people. Genuine repentance and confession causes divine forgiveness

The perception of humility vs Godly humility

Note for a person in the crowd: They struggle to submit because they spent their whole life building up to protect themselves, so the idea of surrendering sounds painful and harmful, wanting to put up walls.

Confession of Sin and repentence leads to appropriate acts like Nehemiah 9:3 “While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God.”

Scripture I want to include:

Hosea 7:14–16 “And they do not cry to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, They turn away from Me. Although I trained and strengthened their arms, Yet they devise evil against Me. They turn, but not upward, They are like a deceitful bow; Their princes will fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.”

Hosea 8:12 “Though I wrote for him ten thousand precepts of My law, They are regarded as a strange thing.”

Hosea 10:11–13 “Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke; I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself. Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, You have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors,”

Hosea 11:7 NASB95

So My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.

Isaiah 2:11 (NASB95)

The proud look of man will be abased

And the loftiness of man will be humbled,

And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

Luke 18:10–14 (NASB95)

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’

“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!’

“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.”

Deep In humiliation, sin crippled Ezra,. The Weight Brought him to sit on the ground. He was mourning, weeping over the sins of the people.

Truth: The right view of God will make you have a right reaction to sin

Robe torn. In the anguish hes going to the father. Even when He’s messy. hes going to the father. Ezra falls on his knees and stretches wide his hands before the Lord my God

This conversation is going to be powerful, intense,passionate, and from the heart.

He confesses straight to God that he is ashamed & embarrassed to even lift up his face before Him. He says that that these sins are so severe that the iniquity has risen above their heads even to the heavens. What a confession, straight to the Lord. He acknowledges the truth of it. Thats what confession is at its root. Saying something true out loud with a repentant heart. Not sugar coating it, not skirting around the bush but facing it head on, on his knees with open hands.

Outline

Main Point Ideas

Biblical View Of Confession- Verses 5-7

Grace In the Midst Of Disobedience- Verse 8

Restoration of His People- Verse 9

Main Application

Ezra and his people were slaves, but in bondage God did not forsake them.

Connecting to, We are slaves to sin but God sent his Son Jesus Christ to save us from eternal death Romans 5:8-10 Romans 6:11

Romans 6:11 NASB95

Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:8–10 NASB95

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Main Call to Action/Response

Call to humble self/SURRENDER and confess sins to the Lord EITHER for repentance or salvation Romans 10:9 1st John 1:9 Romans 10:13 Romans 6:11

Romans 10:13 NASB95

for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

1 John 1:9 NASB95

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 10:9 NASB95

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

Secondary CTA

Confess sins before others and pray with one another so that you made be healed James 5:16

James 5:16 NASB95

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Historical Context

Before the exile, Israel was split into 2 kingdoms, Israel and Judah. The city of Jerusalem, which had the temple, was in the region of Judah. God warned these northern and southern tribes over and over again through Gods prophets to turn away from the idols and false gods and return to following the Lord. They refused to listen, so the Lord brought the nations into captivity, in Babylon taken by King Nebuchadnezzar.

In the book of Ezra, the Israelites have been in captivity in Babylon for about 70 years. At this time Persia is currently in control and they are under rule of King Cyrus. This book recounts 2 of the 3 missions the Israelites had from the return from exile back into their land. The first mission in the beginning chapters, is led by Zerubbabel, leading a group of people back to the promise land under the provision and grace of the Lord to rebuild the temple, which was prophesied 150 years prior in Isaiah 44. The Second mission, was Ezras in chapter 7, (he was a scribe who "had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.”) , when the current king at the time King Artaxerxes (Either 1,2 or 3), decreed under the Goodness of the Lord that Ezra would go down to his land with a gift of all the silver and gold which was found in the whole province of Babylon, which was used to buy offerings for the house of God, to bring to the new temple that was built.

Finishing off chapter 8, they finally make it to Jerusalem and place all the treasure in the temple. Our passage today picks up right after this in chapter 9: 5-9

Verse by Verse Exegesis

Ezra 9:5 NASB95

But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God;

Who?

Ezra is speaking, in the first person, as we know from reading chapter 7,8,9,10. This verse does not show if anyone else is around, but verse 4 shows us that “everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, Ezr 9:4.”

What?

Ezra is making a confession, through prayer, to God, with a physical posture of humbleness

When?

Most likely took place in 458 B.C, the text does not give us an exact date, but the evidence in Ezra 7 and Nehemiah 2 show us pretty close to this estimate.

Where?

At the newly built temple, as concluded by the “at the evening offering” which is a daily ritual that took place

Why?

Ezra was the scribe, teacher and upholder of the law for the people. When he hears the sin of intermarriage, knowing its a direct violation of Deuteronomy 7:2-4

Deuteronomy 7:2–4 NASB95

and when the Lord your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. “Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. “For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you.

AND they have been in exile for 70 years + at this point, just delivered the treasures into the Lords house and don't want to return. Ezra knows this is weighty, and at risk of losing everything again. We know that Ezra has poured himself over the scriptures and has a right view of the LORD. Even though he didn't commit the sin, he knows the wickedness of some will corrupt the whole lot for everyone, as it has been time and time again. Alluded to verse 7, that it keeps on happening. SO, he prays before the Lord and confesses these sins before Him.

What is the meaning of the passage to original audience?

The people were looking to Ezra for his response to the sin. Shows the depravity of man, the back handedness that the people of Israel AND the priests + levites had towards God. Displays the proper position and heart towards sin and prayer.

A call to remember God’s faithfulness and graciousness that when we turn to him after sinning, he is faithful to forgive.

References to other scripture:

Exodus 9:29 “Moses said to him, “As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease and there will be hail no longer, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s.”

1 Timothy 2:8 “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”

1 Kings 8:22 “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.”

1 Kings 8:54 “When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven.”

Psalm 95:6 “Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

Psalm 28:2 “Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.”

Building The Sermon

The Lord is being worshipped tonight through praises and song. I dont want waste any time telling stories, so lets jump straight into His Word.

We have lots of Bibles for yall to use if you dont have one or its still in your bag on the guys campsite thats a mile away. They are over ________

Turn with me in your Bibles to Ezra Chapter 9: 5-9

If you dont know how to find where it is, go to the table of contents in the front of your Bible and look in the Old Testament to find the book of Ezra.

Ezra Chapter 9: 5-9.

Ezra 9:5–9 (NASB95)

But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God;

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.

This is the reading of Gods Word.

(Written Prayer)

LORD, I pray that your Word would pierce our hearts tonight.

pause

In the book of Ezra, the Israelites have been in captivity in Babylon for about 70 years. Thats like living your entire life in exile until your a grandparent. At this time Persia is currently in control and they are under rule of King Cyrus. This book recounts 2 of the 3 missions the Israelites had from the return of exile, coming back into their land. The first mission in the beginning chapters, is led by Zerubbabel, leading a group of people back to the promise land under the provision and grace of the Lord to rebuild the temple, which was prophesied 150 years prior in Isaiah 44. The Second mission, was Ezras in chapter 7, (he was a scribe who "had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.”) , at the second mission when the current king at the time King Artaxerxes (Either 1,2 or 3), He decreed under the Goodness of the Lord that Ezra would go down to his land with gifts of all the silver and gold which was found in the whole province of Babylon, which was used to buy offerings for the house of God, to bring to the new temple that was built.

Finishing off chapter 8, they finally make it to Jerusalem and place all the treasure into the new temple. Our passage today picks up right after this in chapter 9: 5-9

pause

Read V.5

Ezra 9:5 “But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation”

Before we can go any further we must address a few things. What is the evening offering and Ezra’s humiliation?

Chapter 9 versus 1-4 is when things go haywire. The princes approached Ezra and revealed horrible news in verse 1.

pause

Ezra 9:1 “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, according to their abominations”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Chapter 9)

For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons

So the people of Israel, priests, and Levites are marrying other foreign nations. Whats wrong with that?

Ezra knows this is a direct violation Deuteronomy 7:2-4

Read

“Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. “For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you.

God had told the Israelites to not marry them because they would adopt the worship of these false idols and gods, and their children would also forsake the Lord. This was not to oppress the Israelites, it was to protect them! pause Like any good parent would do for a 12 year old child, keeping them from harm. Even when they dont understand.

Even worse, they have been in exile for over 70 years because they turned their backs on the Lord and worshipped other gods! Think about this situation:

Years in captivity, by Gods grace he provides multiple miracles that the Kings let them even return to their homeland. By Gods goodness he lets them return with multitudes of silver, gold, and valuables. They are not killed on their way home by foreign nations as they pass by. They get home, dedicate the gifts to the Lord in the new temple that just rebuilt. Then, the people, priests, and levites all start directly disobeying God and in turn, worshipping false gods.

THIS IS CRAZY! How could they turn their backs so fast to the LORD!? But If we are truly being honest, we all have done this ourselves. Maybe we don't even realize we have been doing this. The only response we can have to this is confession to the Lord like Ezra. Confession means to admit sin individually or on behalf of groups of people. Really means saying something true out loud.

As we continue, Ezra, who did not commit these acts of sin, knows the wickedness of some will corrupt the whole lot for everyone. He is so overburdened by them he sits down in humiliation of the unfaithfulness and lack of gratitude of the people.

Hes just knocked down.

Down for the count. Almost crushed.

It says in verse 4 it says that he even tore some of his hair out and was appalled. Ezra here is rightly viewing sin, the Lord even says what they are doing is an abomination in Deuteronomy verse 4

I want to share truth here: The right view of God will make you have a right reaction to sin

Something has got to change.

So now, after Ezra has been lamenting, he gets up at the evening offering which was the daily sacrifice they used to do in the afternoon, and we continue to read in verse 5.

So reading verse 5:

But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the LORD my God;

Tearing your robe was a common sign in these times that someone would do in anguish. Typically if a family member died etc.

Deep In humiliation, sin crippled Ezra. He was mourning, weeping over the sins of the people.

I cant think of a more humbling position.

Robe torn, In this anguish hes going to the father. Even when He’s messy, I would even say especially when He is messy. He falls on his knees and stretches wide his hands before the Lord God

This is an appropriate view of sin. This is a biblical model for confession.

Now. pause what im not saying is that your body language and physical actions is the key for a true confession, however, this scripture shows that an internal understanding of you sinning, and badly, before a Holy and Righteous God, the internal will be shown externally.

What Ezra is doing here is humbling himself unto the Lord. Now watch, He isnt creating some show for everyone to watch.

This concept is shown through Jesus words in Luke 18:10-14

Illustration through scripture: Luke 18:10–14 (NASB95)

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’

“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!’

“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.”

Truth: The Lord desires us to have humble hearts. Not prideful ones to make ourselves look religious or good. Lets continue in verse 6

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 9

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.

Some of us understand this feeling. Feeling so ashamed of the low points we have stooped to. The brokenness that sin makes you feel like your chained to it. The embarrassment if anyone found out about the thing you have never told anyone, and the fear that God Almighty knows everything. The habitual pain you know is wrong but you haven't been able to shake it. You couldn't even imagine facing it. It feels like it would be like a deer in the headlights trying.

Some here today have spent there whole life building up walls to protect yourself from the hurtful people in your life. The only way you have gotten here today is that you had to play defense to the world, and are being chewed away on the inside. Im not asking you to break down walls for people. Im pleading with you to surrender your heart to the Lord. Confess your sins to Him and repent. (Which means to turn away from them) The only way you can be saved from the brokenness of sin is through faith in Jesus Christ.

This is a biblical model for confession.

Now. pause what im not saying is that your body language and physical actions is what causes a true confession, however, this scripture shows that an internal understanding of you messing up, and badly, before a Holy and Righteous God, the internal will be shown externally.

Generational Sin verse 7

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