Deeply distressed by the people’s compromising marriage because he knew that it was on account of this that they were sent to exile. Despite the severe judgment, the people still had not learned and indulged in marrying the foreigners. So in deep contrition, the bewildered Ezra was fasting and praying. As he was mourning and prostrating before the Lord in deep prayer in the temple, men and women from Israel assembled to him there. Ezra 10:1 said that they were weeping bitterly. There before Ezra, Shecaniah confessed their unfaithfulness and promised on oath to correct their wrong. They would put away their foreign wives and children as Ezra had counseled and do as the law had stipulated. There they encouraged Ezra to arise, saying that they would be with him as he courageously helped them to right their wrongs.
Ezra then arose and made the leading priests, Levites, and all of Israel take an oath to do what was proposed. Meanwhile, Ezra went into the quiet room in the house of Jehohanan (a friend) and spent time fasting and mourning over the people’s unfaithfulness. Then a proclamation was made for all exiles in Judah and Jerusalem to gather in Jerusalem. And within three days, if any of them would not come, his property would be seized and forfeited, and he would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.
For change to take place, the realization
of one’s wrong is not enough. It must also be accompanied by repentance and contrition
and a determination to correct the wrong. This was what the Jews who returned
to Jerusalem inspired by Ezra did. Do we need a reformation in our personal
lives? Are that areas of wrong in our lives that need to be
identified, repented, and changed? Let’s seek the Lord earnestly so that there
can be a movement to get us moving in the right direction and in line with God’s
plan and purpose and us.
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