Saturday 30th May
Read Ezra 10:12-17
“The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: ‘You are right! We must do as you say. 13 But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. 14 Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.’ 15 Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.
16 So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases, 17 and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.” (NIVUK)
There is wisdom at least in the crowd standing before the temple and Ezra on that miserable winter day. ‘Let’s not be hasty. Let’s allow time for the matter to be fully investigated.’ So they worked hard for three months to investigate and draw conclusions.
It was not unanimous. Four people are recorded as opposing the decision. One can only guess at what exactly they opposed. The delay, or the entire proposal? One suspects the proposal was not to their liking. But perhaps they opposed it for other reasons. Perhaps mandating divorce is a step too far?
Are we to read this decision and marvel at the commitment of the people to renew their relationship with God and turn aside His wrath? Are we called to follow their example and pursue holiness at all costs. Is this a practical example of the necessary hardness with which we must deal with sin?
Following God involves a new identity, a new life, and the old ways must be cut off.
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” (Romans 8:11-14) (NIVUK)
