Repentance

What happened last week?

-Officials came and informed Ezra that some of the Israelites and priests had intermarried with foreign women and some had children by them.

Why was this such a big deal?

This was the second time they were commanded to do this

What happened the first time?

They were called into the promised land told to drive everyone out and they didn’t

What happened?

These people made Israel stubble

-Ezra tears his clothes and repents and makes intercession for Israel

Vs 1-5 While Ezra was weeping and praying , a great assembly gathered around him and joined him in sorrow.

-Shecaniah spoke with a solution

He offered that everyone would put away their foreign wives and children. They would make a covenant with God to do so.

It would be Ezra’s responsibility to declare this to the whole congregation of Israelites

But Ezra made the leading priest and Levites take an oath before he did so.

Vs 6-8 Ezra still mourned over their sin

He sent out a proclamation requiring all Jews to assemble in Jerusalem within three days lest they forfeit their property and be banned from Israel.

Why such a harsh calling?

Vs 9-12 They all met in an open square it was raining hard, a terrible matter which they were gathering and they trembled

They all agreed to do what Ezra said.

Vs 13- 15 They convinced Ezra to call them according to heads of households.

Only a few opposed this, can you imagine their walk back.

Vs 16-17 Ezra and and the priest selected men, heads of the household examined the matter for two months.

VS 18-44 These are the names of those who had married foreign wives some with kids.

Why?

To show the seriousness of the matter.

Do you take your sin this serious or would you be like Jonathan and oppose making things right with God.