Untitled Sermon

Homiletics Ezra 9-10

I. Content

Ezra 9

v.1-2 Officials reported to Ezra Israelites, priests, Levites married people of land

v.3-5 Ezra tore garments and fasted amongst those who feared God over Israel’s faithlessness

v.6-7 Ezra confesses Israel’s sin and discipline under foreign kings

v.8-9 Ezra praises God for His love and freeing them from slavery to return to build temple

v.10-12 Israel disobeyed, marrying people of the land, risking inheritance and fruit of land

v.13-14 Israel deserved greater punishment, Ezra fears God’s anger—>destruction of remnant for disobedience

v.15 Ezra reaffirms Israel’s guilt and God’s justice

Ezra 10

v.1- Ezra wept, prayed, confessed while people wept bitterly

v.2-5 Shecaniah told Ezra they should divorce wives, send away children, make oath before God

v.6-8 Ezra fast/mourn, decree to exiles to go to Jerusalem in 3 d or lose property/be banned

v. 9-11 Israel assemble, trembling from sin in rain; Ezra calls for confession and divorce of wives

v.12-14 People agree but had officials stand for them and come at appointed times to turn away God’s wrath

v15-Jonathan, Jahzeiah, Meshullam, Shabbethai (Levite) opposed

v.16-17 from 10th month to 1st month men divorced foreign wives

v.18-44 List of priests, Levites, Israelites who married foreign women with record of ram guilt offering