SCRIPTURE: Ezra 9
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Your servants the prophets warned us when they said, ‘The land you are entering to possess is totally defiled by the detestable practices of the people living there. From one end to the other, the land is filled with corruption. Don’t let your daughters marry their sons! Don’t take their daughters as wives for your sons. Don’t ever promote the peace and prosperity of those nations. If you follow these instructions, you will be strong and will enjoy the good things the land produces, and you will leave this prosperity to your children forever.’ [Ezra 9:11-12]
Totally defiled, detestable practices, filled with corruption… what kind of stuff is this referring to?
Child sacrifice, cultic prostitution, bestiality, torture, sexual perversion with children, cruelty to slaves and women and children and foreigners, stealing from the poor – these and much more were common in that lawless world.
We cannot imagine what things were like then, though there are still places in the world today where these things happen – and many of them are happening around us, though in secret.
Take a tour of the internet, listen to the news, and you will hear examples of the kinds of corruption and detestable practices that occurred, that were not against the law because there was no law!
Into this twisted, corrupt world, God is working to establish a nation based on law and order and morality.
But the history of Israel shows how they failed in this regard, and now Ezra is deeply sorrowful that these things are still happening among them.
You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye—even your good eye —causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand—even your stronger hand —causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. [Matthew 5:27-30]
Ezra refers to intermarriage as one source of this corruption; by becoming one with people who did these things, they were uniting themselves to these sins.
Jesus speaks against unfaithfulness (which is what adultery is), of compromising your integrity and morality by uniting your eyes and hands with immorality and perversity.
Cut it off, get rid of it, refuse it, run away from it, hate it, grieve it, take it SERIOUSLY.
Like Ezra, feel awful whenever we find evidence of moral compromise and sin.
This is not just a warning for people out there who are worse than us, people in other countries; this applies among us too, where so much of this is going on in secret.
How many christians publicly put on a good show, but secretly engage in all kinds of cruel or immoral practices?
How many of us have united ourselves to immoral behaviours regarding sex or alcohol or ‘entertainment’?
Both Ezra and Jesus point out the destructive consequences of these behaviours.
Jesus makes it clear that we would be better off blinded or maimed than allowing these behaviours to remain unchecked.
This may sound extreme, but Jesus is just making the point of how serious and dangerous these problems are.
Compare that to how lax, how unconcerned, many of us appear to be in regard to sin.
Jesus died for the problem, and we hardly give the matter a second thought!
Sin is serious business; our present and future blessing and security are at stake.
PRAYER:
Lord, impress on my heart the detestable practices that are still in me, and grant me the godly sorrow shown by Ezra, the serious concern for sin that You spoke of.
Do this and Live. That’s what the Master said. But how often do I not just go my own way? Be in the world and NOT of the world, but all too often I follow what my eyes see and do what is of the world.
God told His people then and He still tells His people today, Be ye separate from the World. Walk with Me. Walk in my SonShine. Walk in my Way. Remain faithful.
Renew my heart Oh God. Let Your Spirit fall afresh on me so that I am renewed like the eagle to follow Your Way. Then I can be strong and be the living light for all to see. Help me daily to see through the Biblical glasses giving me the vision I need daily. Then I will have the wisdom and understanding that I need to live faithfully in Your presence.
Each day anew I need Your wall of protection so that I walk in Your Way. Lead me and guide me by Your Spirit.
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.