From being touched to taking action

Ezra 10:01-08

1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. 3 Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. 4 Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it."
5 So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. 6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
7 A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. 8 Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.
I. Message
• Content
1. Ezra prays and repents before the Lord for the sins of the people and touches the people around him including men, women and children. (v.1)
2. Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, tells Ezra about his unfaithfulness and is willing to do something about it: sending away the foreign women around them and their children. (v.2-4)
3. Under Ezra’s obligation, the leading priests, Levites and all Israel under oath promised to do what had been suggested by Shecaniah. (v.5)
4. Ezra walked from the house of God into son of Eliashib, Jehohanan’s room to spend the time. While he was there, he did not eat nor drink because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. (v.6)
5. The leaders issued a proclamation telling all the exiles to return to Jerusalem. (v.7) 

Themes:
1. Using one’s life to influence others
2. From being touched to taking action

II. Who is God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit?
• God who listens to prayers
• God who was betrayed by His chosen people
III. What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations and warnings)?
• 1. Using one’s life to influence others (first part)
• While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. (v.1) 
Being a spiritual leader, Ezra did not sin but because of the sins of the people, he mourned before the Lord. During that time, a bunch of Israelites including men and women and children gathered around Ezra and mourned with him as well.
• Facing the sins committed by the Israelites, Ezra did not accuse them on the spot. On the other hand, he felt sad for them and brought their sins before the Lord. Other than prayer, there was mourning. The actions that are naturally brought about in Ezra’s life deeply touches the people around him, causing them to cry and mourn with him. This is what using one’s life to influence others is about.
• Reflection: Being a pastor, elder or parent, do I set a good example and influence those whom I nurture and care? 

• 2. Using one’s life to influence others (second part) 

• Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it." (v.2-4)
• The life of Ezra not only touches the people around him, making them mourn and grief but also influences people with wisdom as well; they decide to repent and bring about a solution to the problem. This can be seen when the descendant of Elam, son of Jehiel, Shecaniah tells Ezra that they have married foreign women and were unfaithful to God and that in spite of that, there is still hope. Now they must make a serious covenant: they must send away the women and their children. Also, they will listen to Him and to those who obey Him.
• Reflection: Have I ever influenced others to make the decision to repent and to change their lives because of my setting a good example? 
 
 
3. The spirit of insistence of the Law
• 
Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. (v.3) 
Those who violated God’s commands and married foreign women sent away their wives and their children. From today’s world, the way it was handled would be seen as harsh and difficult to accept.
• However, Ezra insisted on it because it was something that God did not allow. Since it was something that God did not allow, there was obviously no room for compromise or for compassionate consideration. An example would be that we would not be unwilling to throw away a whole pot of soup just because mouse excrement had been in there for a long time. 
Reflection: If we do not remove evil from its roots, when spring comes it will grow again. Do I often uphold this principle? 

• 4. The wisdom of pursuing the enemy
• So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath. (v.5)
• Not only is Ezra a spiritual leader, he is also a leader with the wisdom of doing things. When his actions influenced Shecaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, to make the decision to bring about a suggestion, he did not stop there. He grabbed hold of the principle of ‘striking while the iron’s hot’ to continued to pursuit. 
He got the spiritual leaders of the time: the priests, Levites and the remaining leaders to make a covenant that they will act according to what Shecaniah says. They indeed did so.
• Reflection: Faced with something that was pleasing to God, Ezra did not delay but grabbed hold of the opportunity and struck while the iron was still hot. Do I have this kind of wisdom and courage to do such things? 
 
5. Spiritual leaders’ vigilance 

• Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. (v.6)
• When things were at a standstill, Ezra did not let slack off because the tasks that were ahead of him were going to be quite difficult. Therefore, he maintained a heart of vigilance before the Lord: he went to the room of Jehohanan’s room to spend the night where he did not eat or drink and mourned over the exiles’ unfaithfulness. 
In other words, to help the Jews restore holy lives, Ezra remained vigilant and kept guard.
• Reflection: As a pastor, elder or parent, how much time do I spend being vigilant and keeping guard towards those whom I nurture and care? 

3. 6. From being touched to taking action
• A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles. (v.7-8)
• Things have occurred such that Ezra temporarily stepped back allowing the leaders to take charge to send a proclamation across Jerusalem and Judah for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem. At the same time, there was a serious covenant stating that anyone that did not appear within three days would have their properties forfeited. They would be expelled from the assembly. Clearly, the whole event went from being touched to taking action.
• Reflection: Do I often feel touched but have not taken action? Do I wait until the feeling disappears or do I act immediately?
• IV. My prayer / Life applications