“Sacred Marriage” Ezra 9:1-15 Message by Michael J. Barnard July 31, 2016 Teaching Aim: To examine the reaction of Ezra as he learned of the heinous sin many Jews were committing in Judea. To realize these Jews were violating the Law of God which had warned them not to intermarry with the unbelieving pagans of the land. To agree the reason for such a command was to protect the people spiritually. To understand many Christians are still struggling with this same issue in our own culture today! DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD’S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: Many in Judea violate the warnings of God’s Law regarding intermarriage with pagan unbelievers and Ezra’s reaction to this news (Ezra 9:1- 4) 1. What was Ezra referring to when he said in verse 1, “When these things were done…”? What things? (See Ezra 8:31-36) How long had elapsed since Ezra and his small group of returning exiles had returned Jerusalem? (See Ezra7:8-10; 10:9) What had Ezra been doing in the months leading up to this event? (See Ezra 8:36) According to Ezra 7:10, 24-26, what was Ezra’s mission and Persian government appointed role in returning to Jerusalem? 2. At this point Ezra was the chief religious leader in the land and Persian judicial representative regarding Jewish affairs. Who approached Ezra notifying him that there was amajor problem among many Jewish people (vs. 1)? According to these “leaders”, what sin was being committed in open defiance to the Law of God? Was this sin limited to the common people, or were the leadership and priests involved as well? Why is it especially dangerous when leadership is living in open sin? 3. What eight nations are mentioned in verse 1 as committing “abominations”? What is an “abomination”? (See Dictionary) Where have we seen these nations mentioned before in Scripture? (See Deut. 20:16-18) What startling command did God give to the Jews in Deut. 20:16-18? Does this shock you? Why did God issue this command? Was this a command for all time, or was it a one-time thing for that specific generation? Why? (See Luke 6:27)
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“SacredMarriage”Ezra9:1-15
MessagebyMichaelJ.Barnard July31,2016TeachingAim:ToexaminethereactionofEzraashelearnedoftheheinoussinmanyJewswerecommittinginJudea.TorealizetheseJewswereviolatingtheLawofGodwhichhadwarnedthemnottointermarrywiththeunbelievingpagansoftheland.Toagreethereasonforsuchacommandwastoprotectthepeoplespiritually.TounderstandmanyChristiansarestillstrugglingwiththissameissueinourownculturetoday!
DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD’S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) PartI:ManyinJudeaviolatethewarningsofGod’sLawregardingintermarriagewithpaganunbelieversandEzra’sreactiontothisnews(Ezra9:1-4)1.WhatwasEzrareferringtowhenhesaidinverse1,“Whenthesethingsweredone…”?Whatthings?(SeeEzra8:31-36)HowlonghadelapsedsinceEzraandhissmallgroupofreturningexileshadreturnedJerusalem?(SeeEzra7:8-10;10:9)WhathadEzrabeendoinginthemonthsleadinguptothisevent?(SeeEzra8:36)AccordingtoEzra7:10,24-26,whatwasEzra’smissionandPersiangovernmentappointedroleinreturningtoJerusalem?
2. AtthispointEzrawasthechiefreligiousleaderinthelandandPersianjudicialrepresentativeregardingJewishaffairs.WhoapproachedEzranotifyinghimthattherewasamajorproblemamongmanyJewishpeople(vs.1)?Accordingtothese“leaders”,whatsinwasbeingcommittedinopendefiancetotheLawofGod?Wasthissinlimitedtothecommonpeople,orweretheleadershipandpriestsinvolvedaswell?Whyisitespeciallydangerouswhenleadershipislivinginopensin?
3. Whateightnationsarementionedinverse1ascommitting“abominations”?Whatisan“abomination”?(SeeDictionary)WherehaveweseenthesenationsmentionedbeforeinScripture?(SeeDeut.20:16-18)WhatstartlingcommanddidGodgivetotheJewsinDeut.20:16-18?Doesthisshockyou?WhydidGodissuethiscommand?Wasthisacommandforalltime,orwasitaone-timethingforthatspecificgeneration?Why?(SeeLuke6:27)
4. TheLawofMosesclearlycommandedtheJewishpeoplenottotakewivesofotherfaiths.(SeeDeut.7:2-4)Whynottrytoconvertthem?Accordingtoverse2,whatweretheJewishpeopledoinginlargenumbers?Inlightofverse2b,whowasdirectlyresponsibleforleadingthepeopleastray?DoyouthinktheseindividualsweretheexilesthatreturnedwithEzra4monthsearlier,orweretheythedescendantsofthosewhohadreturnedwithZerubabbelandJeshuatheHighPriest80-yearsearlier?
5. HowdidEzrarespondwhenheheardthetroublingnews(vs.3)?Why?WhatwasthesignificanceofEzratearinghisrobeandpluckingoutsomeofthehaironhisheadandbeard?Afterthisdisplayofextremegrief,whatdidEzrado?Haveyoueverfeltthiswayinyourownlife,likepullingoutyourhair?HowdidNehemiahrespondinasimilarsituationafewyearslater?(SeeNeh.13:25)
PartII:Ezra’spourshisheartoutinprayertoGod(Ezra9:4-12)1. Accordingtoverse4,hadallthepeoplegoneastray,orwastherestillafaithfulremnantinJudea?WithsomanyChristiansgoingastraytoday,istherestillafaithfulremnanttobefoundinourgeneration?HowshouldweasChristiansfeelwhenweseealloftheopenanddefiantsinofourownculture?Whatcanwedo?
2. HowlongdoyouthinkEzrasatdowninastonishmentanddisbelief?(Seevv.3b,4b)Haveyoueverfeltthisway?WhydidthefaithfulleadersinJudahtremble?Whydoyouthinkmorepeopleinournationdon’tfearthewrathofGodtoday?(SeeRom.2:5-9)ShouldwefearGod’swrathasanation?Howaboutasindividuals?
3.WhendidEzrafinallystopfasting(vs.5)?Ratherthanimmediatelyoffertheeveningsacrifices,whatdidEzradoinlightoftheblatantsinofthenation?Howmanyappropriateposturesofprayercanyouthinkof?Accordingtoverse6,howashamedwasEzraofwhatthesinningJewshaddone?Hasanyoneevershamedyoupersonally,orshamedyourfamilybythesintheyhavecommitted?Howdidyoureact?Accordingtoverse6b,howgreatwasthesinofJudahatthetimeEzraintervened?
4.HowlonghadtheJewishpeopleconsistentlysinnedagainstGod(vs.7)?Whathadresultedfromtheirprevioussin(vs.7b)?Followingthedeath,destructionandsufferingthatcameasaresult,hadtheJewslearnedanything?HavetheJewslivingtodaylearnedtheirlessonyet?(SeeIsa.6:9)Haveyoueverdealtwithsomeone(perhapsafriendorfamilymember)whoselifewasamessbecausetheychosetoliveinalifestyleofsin?Howdidtheirsinaffectyourfamilyandeventhosearoundthem?
5. Accordingtoverse8,howhadGodjustrecentlydemonstratedhisgracetotheJewishpeople?WhatdoesitmeanfortheJewishpeopletohave“apeginHisholyplace”?(SeeCommentaries)WhathasGoddoneto“enlightenoureyes”today?(SeeJohn3:3)
6. Althoughslaves,howdidGodextendHismercytotheJews(vs.9)?WhichfivePersiankingsdidGodtouchtheirheartssothattheyhelpedtheJewishpeople?(SeeCommentaries)InwhatwaydidtheyhelptheJewishpeople?Wasthewallspokenofinverse9aliteralwall,orwasEzraspeakingsymbolically?
7.DidEzratrytodefendtheactionsofhispeopleinanyway(vs.10)?Whyorwhynot?AccordingtoEzra,whathadtheJewsdone(vs.10b)?
8. Accordingtoverses11and12,whatcriticalwarningshadbeengiventotheJewishpeoplebeforetheyenteredthePromisedLand?WhywerethesewarningsgivenbyGod?DidtheJewishpeoplelistentoGod?Aretheylisteningtoday?Whydoyouthinksomanypeopletodaydon’tlistentothewarningsofGodfoundinHolyScripture?
PartIII:EzraacknowledgesGod’srighteousnessandpleadsforHismercy(Ezra9:13-15)1.JudahandBenjaminhadjustcomeoutofahorrific70-yearBabyloniancaptivity,andthe10northerntribesofIsraelweregone,dispersedthroughouttheworld(eventothisday).HowdidEzrafeelaboutthepunishmentthatGodpouredoutontheJews(vs.13)?DoesthisimplythateveninthetimeofGod’swrath,HeremainedmercifultotheJews?
2. AccordingtoEzra,howdidtheJewsrespondtoGod’skindness(vs14)?WasthecommandagainstintermarriagefortheJewsonly,oristhisawarningforallbelieverstoday?WhatdidtheApostlePaulmeanwhenhesaidin2Cor.6:14,“Donotbeunequallyyokedtogetherwithunbelievers”?Why?Doesthispassagereferjusttomarriage,ordoesitapplytoallareasoflife?IthasbeensaidthatasChristianswearetobeintheworld,butnotoftheworld.Whatdoesthisstatementmeantoyou?
3. HowshouldChristiansrespondiftheyarealreadymarriedtoanunbeliever?(See1Cor.7:10-16)Accordingto1Cor.7:14,whyisitsoimportantforthebelievingspousetostayinamarriagewithanunbelievingpartner?Whatoptiondoyouhaveiftheunbelievingspousewalksoutonyou?MarriagedoneGod’swayisonemanwithonewomenforonelifetime.Accordingto1Cor.7:39,howlongdoesGodexpectthemarriagevowstolast?(SeeMatt.5:31-32)
4.GodisarighteousandjustGod.HowangrydidEzraindicateGodwouldbejustifiedtobeinlightofthislatestsinbytheJews(vs.14b)?Ezraacknowledgedthe“righteousness”ofGodinverse15,whatdoestheword“righteous”mean?(SeeDictionary)InlightoftheobviousguiltofJudea,theonlythingEzracoulddowaspleadforGod’smercy.HowshouldweasChristiansrespondtotheabundantsinbeingcommittedbyourowncountrytoday?(See2Chron.7:14)
5.WhatpracticalapplicationscanwepickupfromEzrachapter9?1.2.3.4.5.
MINER’SCORNER~Mannatoliveby!●WeviolateGod’slawandaskfortroublewhenwemarrypeoplewhodon’tshareourfaithintheLord!
●ThereisagreaterchanceyourunbelievingspousewillnegativelyimpactyourwalkwiththeLordthanthatyouwillleadhimorhertofollowChrist!
●Thereisagoodchanceyourunbelievingspousewillpassonthatspiritofunbelieftoyourchildrenandgrandchildren!
• TheApostlePaulwarnsusforgoodreasonnottobe“unequallyyokedtogetherwithunbelievers”,thisincludesinallareasoflife!
• God’sintentforthemarriagerelationshipisonemanandonewomanforonelifetime!• Ezraconfessedthesinofhisnationasifitwerehisown,andsoshouldwe!• LikeEzra,weshouldacknowledgeGod’srighteousnessandpleadforhismercywhilethereis
stilltimeforournationtorepent!(2Chron.7:14)
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