00A.10 Ezra 10
How good to see that Ezra rises to the challenge, and that he does so in a good and humble spirit! His humiliation was the start of restoration for the people. He had been praying, those who trembled before the word of God had joined him (Ezra 9:4), and in the beginning of Ezra 10:1-44 we find a ’very great congregation’, assembled with Ezra. Where there is confession of failure there is hope. Shechaniah put it well: "We have trespassed against our God. yet now there is hope in Israel.". I do not think he took it lightly. In fact, his father was among the ’problem cases’ (Ezra 10:26). He suggests that the confession and prayer should be accompanied by action (Ezra 10:3), what an encouragement for Ezra (Ezra 10:4)! A genuine commitment to implement God’s order is required (Ezra 10:5). A proclamation is made and, within three days, all of Judah and Benjamin assemble together at Jerusalem (Ezra 10:9). They tremble because of ’this matter’ and because of the inclement weather (it was in the middle of the rainy season). Perhaps the heavy rainfalls reminded them of God’s judgement, but in any case they certainly added to their discomfort.
Ezra’s stern words ’you have transgressed’ and ’make confession’ are quite appropriate as he had humbled himself and now needs to reach the consciences of all. They have to correct the matter in which they had dishonoured their God, and they agree to do so (Ezra 10:10-12).
Frequently, it is admitted that things have to be put right, put it is pointed out that (i) this would be a very complex thing to do, and (ii) that doing so would hurt (and, in fact, some voices - even though few - were raised in objection here, too (Ezra 10:15)).
Well, the matter before Ezra certainly was complex. It could not be ’sorted out’ in a day. It took thorough examination (Ezra 10:16) three months. So the complexity meant that the matter would take time to resolve, not that it should not be addressed in the first place. And who would say it did not hurt? Over 100 men had offended in this way, and some of the women had born children (Ezra 10:44). But it was better to obey God now and to bear the governmental consequences of their sin than to continue in it.
How sad, you may say, that a book of revival should end on such a sombre note! Ezra closes with a list of offenders (Ezra 10:18-44). It was a matter that split families apart. It was sad indeed that there had been such failure among the remnant, the minority who had returned to the place of God’s choice! But on the other hand, we should not overlook that this list contains the names of those who ’offered a ram for their trespass’ and ’gave their hand’ to put right that which was wrong (Ezra 10:19). In other words, the book of Ezra ends with a list of people who have been restored! We are reminded of the words of James:
".if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20)
What a success for Ezra’s mission! It would have been so much easier for him (and those with him) to settle down in Babylon. But he went. And God used him for the blessing and restoration of not a few among His people.
Michael Hardt
[1] To see this, compare Numbers 1:1-54 with Numbers 26:1-65. Some tribes had increased in number, others decreased, but the overall number of the people remained roughly the same.