People Confessed Their Sin to God
July 8, 2022
Commentary
While Ezra was on his knees in front of God’s temple, praying with tears and confessing the sins of the people of Israel, a large crowd gathered around him. They also wept bitterly, deeply moved by the seriousness of the moment (v. 1). Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the family of Elam, spoke and said, “Ezra, we have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women” (v. 2). Yet he also expressed hope, saying that Israel could still turn back to God if they followed godly counsel and respected God’s law (v. 3). He urged the people to make a covenant with God, even though obedience would require costly action. Then he encouraged Ezra, saying, “Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and act” (v. 4).
Ezra stood up and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath to carry out this decision, and they agreed (v. 5). After this, Ezra withdrew from the temple and spent the night in the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib (v. 6). He continued to mourn over the people’s unfaithfulness and did not eat or drink. Soon, a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, calling all the returned exiles to gather in Jerusalem within three days (vv. 7–8). Anyone who refused would lose their property and be excluded from the community. Three days later, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people of Judah and Benjamin assembled in the temple court-yard (v. 9). It was a solemn meeting, and as rain poured down, the people sat trembling, aware of both the weather and the seriousness of their sin, recognizing the urgent need for repentance and renewed obedience before God and their shared responsibility to respond one community.
Application
As I read this passage, I ask how I respond when sin is clearly revealed. Do I grieve before God with honesty? Am I willing to obey even when it is costly? Do I listen to godly counsel? Do I take responsibility for my choices before God? Will I act with courage and responsibility when God calls me to change?
Ezra 10:1–9 (NET)
1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself to the ground before the temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelites—men, women, and children alike—gathered around him. The people wept loudly. 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra:
3 Therefore let us enact a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, and that of those who respect the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law. 4 Get up, for this matter concerns you. We are with you, so be strong and act decisively!”
5 So Ezra got up and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath to carry out this plan. And they all took a solemn oath. 6 Then Ezra got up from in front of the temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he stayed there, he did not eat food or drink water, for he was in mourning over the infidelity of the exiles.
7 A proclamation was circulated throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem. 8 Everyone who did not come within three days would thereby forfeit all his property, in keeping with the counsel of the officials and the elders. Furthermore, he himself would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.
9 All the men of Judah and Benjamin were gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. (It was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of that month.) All the people sat in the square at the temple of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the rains.
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