Stuck in Sorrow - Ezra 10
Insight Into Scripture
Today, we finish with chapter 10, which finishes the book of Ezra. Chapter 10 tells how the people of Judah, after disobeying GOD and intermarrying with different tribes, ask for forgiveness.
October through February is the cold and rainy season in Judah and Jerusalem. Temperatures in the forties would not be usual (10:13).
Bringing the Bible Alive
Good Morning! It is so great to be with you again this morning. This is a picture of Jerusalem at night. The people were ready to sacrifice for their sins, but they felt that holding it in the open square would dampen the spirits of the people, plus standing out their in the cold might have raised tempers. That is why they opted to let the officials act for the whole community.
Scripture
1 While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. 2 And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: "We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 3 Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. 4 Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it." - Ezra 10:1-4 ESV
Thought For the Day
As I was reading this passage of scripture, I could not help but to chuckle. I guess that I was laughing at myself. How many times have I buried my head in my pillow, just stuck. I would feel that I have sinned yet again, and how was GOD ever going to forgive me..... Poor me..... there is no way that HE could forgive me for this terrible sin that I did. Until a "Barnabus" would come alot and help me see the light, and encouraged me to get past this and move on.
This is the same situation that I feel Ezra was in. He was stuck in his sorrow for the people that he was leading. It says that he was weeping, and throwing himself down before GOD. He must of made such a spectacle of himself that a large crowd gathered around him. For awhile they joined with him in sorrow, but then an innocent soul spoke up and says, Yes, we have sinned, but it is not the end of the world is it? There is hope, let's move past this.
I can imagine at one time in your life you have felt overwhelmed. You want to do the right thing, but it seems like every time you try, it ends up in sin......AGAIN. Paul in Romans 7:725 said it so well. Paul expresses in verse 15, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do". He then goes on in in verse 24 to call himself a "Wretched man." Stop and think; Paul, this amazing example of a Christian leader is frustrated due to the sin he is stuck in, and goes on to call himself wretched.
You and I are going to sin, we are human, fallen creatures. We have two choices when we sin, let it stop us and feel sorry for ourselves, just as I am sure mr. pipsqueak would love (you remember who pipsqueak is), OR you can repent for your sins, KNOW that Christ forgives you, and move on. You are white as snow, your sins are thrown into the deepest oceans. Stand up, hold your head up high, and keep fighting the good fight for Him!
Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus
Thank You Father for letting me hold my head up and know that You forgive me. Father I pray that I do well for You though and I pray that I always seek Your ways and not mine. Thank You for loving and caring so much and always being right by my side.
I love You and I pray in Jesus Name, Amen
Bible Trivia:
ReplyDeleteWhy were the children of Israel condemned to wander in the wilderness for forty years?
ANSWER: Below I have given a list of the words found in the story of Numbers 14 (amplified). All of these are words assciated with NEGATIVE actions, as they surely are here and against GOD. Each of These were actions that led a long suffering, slow to anger, abundant in mercy loving-kindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression God to in no means clear the guilty and visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, all the way to the third and fourth generation. (VERSE 18)
VS. 2, 27 grumbling, deploring and murmuring
VS. 9 rebellion and fear
VS. 11, 23 faith and the provoking of God
VS. 22 because of testing and provoking of God
With all of the above said I think we could lump all of it into two words as to why they wandered for 40 years and they are:
NO TRUE LOVE FOR OR TRUST IN GOD
IN CHRIST
Ecc.3
Donna
Numbers 14
ReplyDelete8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
What a contrast in what the children of Israel did and what they knew to and should have done to get God to DELIGHT in THEM. When I read this it always jumps out at me that they are talking about the Lord Delighting in THEM ! When if we Delight OURSELVES in Him, He WILL BE DELIGHTED IN US.
What they did:
2 All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation, accusing Moses and Aaron, to whom the whole congregation said, Would that we had died in Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness!
I have just arose from a migraine and it WAS one that is usually only gotten once a year. When attacked this type will put me down for the day and night.
As I laid there, waking times were spent with God. Not asking for healing but thoughts of HIM and others that need Him or healing of Him. Now let me say quickly there is nothing wrong asking of God, I have just learned long ago the passage: Matthew 6:8
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
By 12:00 p.m. realization hit that the pain was gone. Not in the many hours as usuall but in just a few short hours and with no meds, which is usually needed so I can sleep it off. I had the rest of God and the pain ceased
What I love about this is because the first thing I started to do when I got downstairs was, you got it, the Devotion. Before I could get to today's I had to read yesterdays Trivia scripture NUMBERS 14. The first verse I read was 8 and let me tell you this morning I was delighting myself in the Lord and even now. After one of those headaches leave I can say I feel like I am "in the land of milk and honey."
ALL PRAISE AND THANKS BE UNTO GOD MINE AND YOURS FATHER
IN CHRIST
Ecc. 3
Donna