Conscience stricken before God, a very great congregation was afterward gathered to Ezra, both of men, Women and children, and the people wept very much.
Godly sorrow leads to repentance, and this is seen presently, first. in Shechaniah. Painful as it must have been even to consider such an act, he proposes that the foreign wives, and the children born to such marriages, shall be put away. Ezra rose From his knees, and made the chiefs of the people, including priests and Levites, swear that they would do this very thing.
Proclamation was then made to all the children of the captivity to gather together at Jerusalem, and when they came, Ezra addressed diem, confronting them with their. unfaithfulness. Confession of guilt followed, and then it appears steps were taken to withdraw from. a position forbidden by God's Word.
What lesson is there for believers in our own day, in what have been considering? Is it not to note the resemblance between the unfaithfulness to God and His Word here seen, and so evident at the present time, when many of God's dear children are in varying degrees linked with the world through marriage, through business partnerships, through membership in organizations formed for worldly advantage, through intimate friendships with those who are strangers to God's grace? And if there be confession of guilt, there most necessarily be repentance; the blessing of God cannot be expected until the Word has been obeyed, and acted upon. (2 Cor. 6:14-1814Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14‑18)).
May He arouse who tremble at Ilia Word, to a much greater degree of faithfulness!