Scripture for today: Ezra 9; Ezra 10; Psalm 131; Luke 21 (New International Version)
Scripture-My special verse today: Ezra 10:9 Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain. 10 Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt. 11 Now make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”
Observation: The country is not following God and the people do not want to be out of God’s grace any longer. Ezra tells them they disobeyed God by marrying foreign women and they agree to be disciplined by him in order to get back into God’s favor. The people are only ready to listen when things get really bad for them.
Application: This passage today deals with a subject neither politically correct or non-judgmental. Today one would be thrown out of society to suggest such things. However, from the little I have seen of the Jewish community, they still believe that one should marry another Jewish person in order to keep their beliefs and traditions alive. Is that wrong? Not according to the scriptures.
In today’s society, we are quick to say that anything goes even though the scriptures do not support it. In Ezra’s time, people believed that God’s commandments meant what they said and they knew when they were violating a commandment. Nothing today is sacred or you are called judgmental. Sad.
Prayer: Let me read the truth in your Word, not the world’s rendition.
