It took me a little more than 15 minutes to read this passage. The command of God for Moses to give to Israel was not to marry those who lived in the promised land. The reason was that those marriages would lead God’s people away from the exclusive act of worship of Israel’s God. And it did. Beginning with Solomon and continuing through most of the kings and many of the people of Israel foreign marriage led the people into rebellion against God and his law. After a seventy year time out Israel returned to God’s promised land. But they also returned to the practice of marrying those outside of the covenant. Ezra was broken hearted. Though he was not guilty of this sin, he understood the pain that it had cause God and Israel. Chapter 9 verses 6-15 is Ezra’s prayer of repentance for the people. Twice he tore his close before God. He mourned for hours waiting the proper time to approach the throne of grace. I believe that Christians today have the same opportunity to approach God on behalf of our nation; as long as we do so with the same attitude that Ezra had.
Stuart
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