2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
They've married people who God gave strict instructions not to entangle or intermarry with those who worshiped other gods.
3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
I can imagine Ezra saying, " shoot," I can't even pull my shoes off and I am dealing and hearing about the foolishness of people I once looked up to. !! My hair is coming from my head and my beard!! Lord help us!!
4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
Other people who loved God also came to the place Ezra was and sat in unbelief and sadness about what was going on in the land God called theirs.
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God,
I lost my appetite, tore my clothes, and fell on my knees. Ezra cries out to God.
6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
Ezra includes himself as part of the people who have sinned against God again. When we are a part of people who sin, we also must ask God to forgive us. Not just forgive them. When we win, we win together. When we lose we lose as one. Jesus said we must pray, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
Since we left Egypt, we have shown little in respect to being obedient toward you. You punished us and here we are again, living in dishonor of who you are.
8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
Still, you took some time to give us enough room to show us how much you want and still love us in spite of wrong behaviors. We are slaves under the hands of men who are strangers to your covenant; and you still watch over us, hoping that we will follow you when you send us a spark of light when we've drifted again.
9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
As slaves to the ungodly, you still let all know you are watching over us. You find ways to bless and protect us in any way you can.
10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
What can we say? We have sinned again.
11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
When you picked us up from Egypt, you explained how crooked the lives of the people were in the land you freely gave us. You kept your promise and now here we are, having been taught clearly by you, we do the same thing that people who never knew you.
12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
Ezra turns to the people and makes his plea. Stop going against God by marrying people who are only going to snatch everything God has for you. Live as God's people and make provision for your offspring. Turn and obey God, please.
13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
Take a look at what we've done. We left God and we deserve much worse than the punishment God has placed upon us. We sin and sin and sin and sin again. And still, he sends help our way.
14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
Ezra seems to be talking to God, then he looks at the people and talks to them. His pleas toward God is to look on us once again, while at the same time begging the people to repent.
My One Minute Song
When?
We sin when
we don’t know God’s Word
We trespass
when we know and don’t do
We commit iniquities
when we sin and sin and sin again
Then we run toward God
When things get hard
And we make promises
With all our hearts
He hears us
and forgives us
And we turn our backs
on him again
When will stop
playing these games
And show God
We have changed
We’re all one team
And we all wanna win
So let’s stop playing these silly game
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