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 a major 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)
4. The Law of Moses clearly commanded the Jewish people not to take wives of other faiths. (See Deut. 7:2-4) Why not try to convert them? According to verse 2, what were the Jewish people doing in large numbers? In light of verse 2b, who was directly responsible for leading the people astray? Do you think these individuals were the exiles that returned with Ezra 4 months earlier, or were they the descendants of those who had returned with Zerubabbel and Jeshua the High Priest 80-years earlier? 5. How did Ezra respond when he heard the troubling news (vs. 3)? Why? What was the significance of Ezra tearing his robe and plucking out some of the hair on his head and beard? After this display of extreme grief, what did Ezra do? Have you ever felt this way in your own life, like pulling out your hair? How did Nehemiah respond in a similar situation a few years later? (See Neh. 13:25) Part II: Ezra s pours his heart out in prayer to God (Ezra 9:4-12) 1. According to verse 4, had all the people gone astray, or was there still a faithful remnant in Judea? With so many Christians going astray today, is there still a faithful remnant to be found in our generation? How should we as Christians feel when we see all of the open and defiant sin of our own culture? What can we do? 2. How long do you think Ezra sat down in astonishment and disbelief? (See vv. 3b,4b) Have you ever felt this way? Why did the faithful leaders in Judah tremble? Why do you think more people in our nation don t fear the wrath of God today? (See Rom. 2:5-9) Should we fear God s wrath as a nation? How about as individuals? 3. When did Ezra finally stop fasting (vs. 5)? Rather than immediately offer the evening sacrifices, what did Ezra do in light of the blatant sin of the nation? How many appropriate postures of prayer can you think of? According to verse 6, how ashamed was Ezra of what the sinning Jews had done? Has anyone ever shamed you personally, or shamed your family by the sin they have committed? How did you react? According to verse 6b, how great was the sin of Judah at the time Ezra intervened?
4. How long had the Jewish people consistently sinned against God (vs. 7)? What had resulted from their previous sin (vs. 7b)? Following the death, destruction and suffering that came as a result, had the Jews learned anything? Have the Jews living today learned their lesson yet? (See Isa. 6:9) Have you ever dealt with someone (perhaps a friend or family member) whose life was a mess because they chose to live in a lifestyle of sin? How did their sin affect your family and even those around them? 5. According to verse 8, how had God just recently demonstrated his grace to the Jewish people? What does it mean for the Jewish people to have a peg in His holy place? (See Commentaries) What has God done to enlighten our eyes today? (See John 3:3) 6. Although slaves, how did God extend His mercy to the Jews (vs. 9)? Which five Persian kings did God touch their hearts so that they helped the Jewish people? (See Commentaries) In what way did they help the Jewish people? Was the wall spoken of in verse 9 a literal wall, or was Ezra speaking symbolically? 7. Did Ezra try to defend the actions of his people in any way (vs. 10)? Why or why not? According to Ezra, what had the Jews done (vs. 10b)? 8. According to verses 11 and 12, what critical warnings had been given to the Jewish people before they entered the Promised Land? Why were these warnings given by God? Did the Jewish people listen to God? Are they listening today? Why do you think so many people today don t listen to the warnings of God found in Holy Scripture?
Part III: Ezra acknowledges God s righteousness and pleads for His mercy (Ezra 9:13-15) 1. Judah and Benjamin had just come out of a horrific 70-year Babylonian captivity, and the 10 northern tribes of Israel were gone, dispersed throughout the world (even to this day). How did Ezra feel about the punishment that God poured out on the Jews (vs. 13)? Does this imply that even in the time of God s wrath, He remained merciful to the Jews? 2. According to Ezra, how did the Jews respond to God s kindness (vs 14)? Was the command against intermarriage for the Jews only, or is this a warning for all believers today? What did the Apostle Paul mean when he said in 2 Cor. 6:14, Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers? Why? Does this passage refer just to marriage, or does it apply to all areas of life? It has been said that as Christians we are to be in the world, but not of the world. What does this statement mean to you? 3. How should Christians respond if they are already married to an unbeliever? (See 1 Cor. 7:10-16) According to 1 Cor. 7:14, why is it so important for the believing spouse to stay in a marriage with an unbelieving partner? What option do you have if the unbelieving spouse walks out on you? Marriage done God s way is one man with one women for one lifetime. According to 1 Cor. 7:39, how long does God expect the marriage vows to last? (See Matt. 5:31-32) 4. God is a righteous and just God. How angry did Ezra indicate God would be justified to be in light of this latest sin by the Jews (vs. 14b)? Ezra acknowledged the righteousness of God in verse 15, what does the word righteous mean? (See Dictionary) In light of the obvious guilt of Judea, the only thing Ezra could do was plead for God s mercy. How should we as Christians respond to the abundant sin being committed by our own country today? (See 2 Chron. 7:14)
5. What practical applications can we pick up from Ezra chapter 9? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! We violate God s law and ask for trouble when we marry people who don t share our faith in the Lord! There is a greater chance your unbelieving spouse will negatively impact your walk with the Lord than that you will lead him or her to follow Christ! There is a good chance your unbelieving spouse will pass on that spirit of unbelief to your children and grandchildren! The Apostle Paul warns us for good reason not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, this includes in all areas of life! God s intent for the marriage relationship is one man and one woman for one lifetime! Ezra confessed the sin of his nation as if it were his own, and so should we! Like Ezra, we should acknowledge God s righteousness and plead for his mercy while there is still time for our nation to repent! (2 Chron. 7:14)