Reading: Ezra 10
Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the Law (Ezra 10:3).
Few chapters in our study of the Old Testament are as conceptually confusing for us to read as Chapter 10 of the Book of Ezra. When we read it from the perspective of a modern- day Christian living under the Covenant of grace sealed by the blood of Christ, we are appalled at what we perceive to be the ungodly directive of Ezra: Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them. Our minds immediately flash to the words of Christ: He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery (Matt. 19:8-10). If we approach the passage from the viewpoint of a post-exilic Jew living under the Law, however, then the directive becomes much more understandable.
The Lord had given His people a direct command. Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following Me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly (Deut. 7:3-4). Instead of following His Word, they blatantly disobeyed Him. Ezra was sickened by the news because he knew that this was the same path that had led to the fracture and eventual destruction of the nation of Israel. For this reason, he took immediate corrective actions in line with the Law of the Old Covenant. While painful for all involved, these actions were necessary for the people to reconcile themselves with God.
It is still of the utmost importance to our spiritual well-being that our spouse be a follower of Christ. No matter the physical attraction or genuine affection, it is impossible for a child of God to have true compatibility with a non-believer. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness (II Cor. 6:14)? A marriage contract is more than a piece of paper; it is a lifetime commitment. A commitment that will either provide unconditional love and support during all of life’s seasons or else bring heartache, strife, and spiritual corruption. Next to our decision to accept Christ, our choice of spouse is the decision that will have the greatest impact on our lives. For this reason, marriage should never be entered into in haste. As in all things, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matt. 6:33).
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Matt. 19:5-6).
Thought for Today: Worldly influence is at its most deadly when it is applied by someone we love.
Christ Revealed: Through the ram (male sheep) that was offered for the offenses of the sons of the priests (Ezra 10:19). Christ offered Himself for the sins and offenses of all mankind. He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25).
Word Studies: 10:1 wept very sore = wept bitterly; 10:2 strange = foreign; 10:8 substance = property; 10:13 without = outside in the rain; 10:15 were employed about = were opposed to; 10:19 gave their hands = promised, vowed.
Pray for Staff: Ryan McCrary • Government Official: Gov. Tate Reeves (MS)Rep.Chrissy Houlahan (PA) • Country: Peru (30,147,935) Western coast South America • Major Languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara • Open to evangelism and Bible distribution • 81.3% Roman Catholic; 12.5% Evangelical; 3.3% Other (Seventh-Day Adventist; Mormon; Jehovah's Witness; Israelites of the New Universal Pact Baptist; Jew; Baha'i; Hare Krishna; Muslim); 2.9% None/Unspecified • Prayer Suggestion: Pray and then obediently do what God says (I Chr. 14:14-16).
Optional Reading: II Corinthians 7.