Ezra Chapter 9

Ezra Chapter 9

1. What did the princes report to Ezra concerning the people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites? vs. 1

2.  What did the peoples of the land commit that was the reason they were to not be involved with them? vs. 1

3.  Who are the people of the land that are mentioned? vs. 1 - Name 8 given 1)2)3)4)5)6)7)8)

4.  How does this compare with what God had commanded Israel through Moses when they first entered the land of promise?  Comment on the following Scriptures:

• Exodus 34:11-16 -
• Deuteronomy 7:1-4 -

5.  Who had been the 'most' unfaithful in intermingling with the women of the world? vs. 2

6.  How did Ezra react when he heard about all of this? vs. 3

7.  Others who trembled at the words of God because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to Ezra as he sat appalled until the evening offering.  The intercessors came together for somber prayer and reflection before the Lord.  (vs.4) .... What had the Lord told them in Deuteronomy 7:3,4 would happen if they intermarried and served other gods?

Note:  It was black and white: God said that He would quickly destroy them if they entered into this behavior - and they had.  This was no time to be casual about sin in the camp!  The ones who gathered around Ezra took the Word of God seriously. They rallied around the man who was going to stand for righteousness.

8.  What did Ezra do at the evening offering?  What was his position in prayer?  vs. 5

9.  We are blessed to have the very prayer Ezra said recorded for us.  Why did he say he was ashamed and embarrassed to lift up his face to the Lord? vs. 6

10.  Ezra went back to the days of his forefathers confessing the guilt for generations and acknowledged that this was the reason why they had become captive to others and to open shame. (vs.7) ... What had God shown to them for this brief time of allowing them to rebuild His house and worship there again? vs. 8

11.  Ezra was thankful that their eyes might be 'enlightened' to the fact that they had a little reviving in their bondage. (vs.8)  That is so powerful!  When we are in bondage to sin or anything weighing us down, we can draw on the grace of God to show us a time of revival and refreshment.  What had God shown them even in their time of "bondage"? vs. 9 - Name 5 things  1)2)3)4)5)

12.  Ezra was without excuse that they would forsake His commandments after the grace that had been shown them. (vs.10)  What had God already warned them concerning the land they were entering to possess from the beginning? vs. 11

13.  What had the Lord told them not to do concerning the people of the lands? vs. 12 - Name 4 things - 1)2)3)4)

14.  What would be the result if they would obey these commands? vs. 12b - Name 3 things - 1)2)3)

15.   Ezra realized that their hardships were caused by their own evil deeds and great guilt and that God had requited them "less" than their iniquities deserved. (vs.13) ... He knew that God had been gracious to leave them an escaped remnant and yet if they continued to break His commandments, there was fear that He could bring them to complete destruction. (vs.14) ... What was Ezra's final declaration in this prayer?  Did he try to excuse their sin or did He just trust God's character whatever the outcome? vs. 15

Applications:

1.  The Lord did not want Israel to allow themselves or their sons to marry daughters from the other nations because of their idolatry and abominations they committed in worship to other gods.  What have we been instructed about not being yoked with someone of a different belief than ours?

• Deuteronomy 7:3-5 -
• Deuteronomy 7:6-8 -
• 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 -
• 1 Corinthians 15:33 -
• 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 -
• 1 Peter 2:9-12 -

2.  The leadership had been the 'most unfaithful' in intermingling with the worldly women and in danger of sharing in their idolatry.  What are we warned against concerning being friends with the things of the world?

• James 4:4-7 -
• 1 John 2:15-17 -

3.  Ezra was apalled when he heard about this!  We should always be in shock when we hear that people of God have resorted to a lack of standard to their calling.  He greived over their sin.  He openly wept.  Do we grieve over the sin of others?  Do we take time to sit before the Lord and cry for them and pray for them?  We should not have a callous attitude that they "made their bed and should lie in it".  No, we need to intercede for them and ask God to have mercy on them; to bring them back!

• Luke 15:3-7 -
• Luke 15:8-10 -
• Luke 15:11-32 -
• Luke 22:31,32 -
• Galatians 6:1 -
• James 5:19,20 -

4.  Ezra took Israel back to the Word of God and they saw that what they were doing did not line up with what God had said for them to do.  The Word (law) exposes our sin.  That is the standard.  That is the warning.  What will God's Word do for us?

• Romans 10:17 -
• 2 Timothy 3:16 -
• Hebrews 4:12 -

5.  Honest repentance has a godly sorrow that brings change.  Weep for sin; be apalled at our sinful nature.  Others will be drawn to open up and be transparent before God as well.

• 2 Corinthians 7:9-11-
• 2 Corinthians 12:20,21 -
• James 4:6-10 -

6.  Ezra wisely did not claim an excuse or a reason for their sin. Israel had sinned and they were guilty. Ezra went back to the days of his forefathers confessing the guilt for generations and acknowledged that this was the reason why they had become captive to others. The appeal must be made for mercy to the guilty, not as a favor to the deserving (or semi-deserving).  As David said in his prayer of repentance in Psalm 51. To confess sin means to stand in agreement with God for how we do not measure up to His standard of righteousness.  No excuses.  No explanations.  We are guilty as charged.

• Romans 1:16-32 -
• 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 -
• 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 -
• Psalm 51:1-4 -
• 1 John 1:9 -

7.  Acknowledge God's Righteousness and Grace.  Ezra also wisely appealed to God’s righteousness, especially in leaving a remnant in fulfillment of His prior promises. ( See 2 Chronicles 30:6 and Isaiah 10:20-22) .... Our Lord Jesus has already taken the punishment on Himself for our sins.  We are told to draw near to our High Priest for grace and mercy in our time of need.  Don't let pride hold you back from approaching Him.

• 2 Corinthians 5:21 -
• Hebrews 4:16 -
• 1 John 1:9 -

8.  Turning from our wicked ways is true repentance and we will see in Chapter 10 that they did act upon their convictions in putting away the foreign wives, etc. 

• Matthew 3:8 -
• James 2:14-26 -
• 1 Thessalonians 1:9 -
• Acts 3:19 -

9.  Summarize this lesson and post a prayer if you would like.