Ezra 10:18–44

First come the names of the priests who had fallen into sin, and these fall into two classes. In verse 18 there are "the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers;" and in verses 20-22 other priests. The first group seem to have been the more guilty, and with reason. By the grace of God, Jeshua and Zerubbabel had led His people in building His house. It shows that these men had lost all conscience about the nature of their sin. "The lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." But here the priests had corrupted the people by their evil ways. When they were dealt with, "they pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt." Notice that this is only said of Jeshua's relatives.

The names of the priests come first. Theirs was the greater responsibility and guilt. The sons of Joshua head the list. What an illustration of what man is! The sons of the high priest had been such great instruments of the Lord, with Zerubbabel, to lead the first captives back — and yet they corrupted themselves with these women.

Nor was this sin confined to any one class of the people. "The hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost in this faithlessness." The record names the priests and the Levites too, as well as the people. It would seem then that the officials and chief men had first set the example, and that the others had only been too ready to follow. "One sinner destroys much good," especially when that one has a place of position and influence. When a standard-bearer faints in the day of battle, the soldiers behind him are often discouraged and easily defeated. In the same way, once Satan has trapped a leader in the church of God, he often finds it easy work to ensnare many who are less noticeable.

And more than a hundred were found, four of priestly rank. Their names follow without respect of persons (vers. 18-44).

This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. The apostle says: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

We know what a scene of grief and pleading this must have been. It was a time of agony for many a father and mother in Israel who had been found out in their sin. But the truth is that there is no real repentance without deep grief and pain. That is even more true when the sin is not just one sinner's sin, but the sin of the people of God — when they feel deeply that, as God's people, they have brought His name into such contempt.

First come the names of the priests who had fallen into sin. The sons of Jeshua seem to have been held the more guilty, and with reason. In the grace of God, Jeshua had stood with Zerubbabel as a leader of God's people in building His house. It shows that they had lost all sense of what their sin really was. "A priest's lips should guard knowledge, and the people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." But here the priests had corrupted the people by their evil ways. Note too that only Jeshua's relatives are said to have given their hand and offered the ram.

They flatly refused any share in the work to the people of the land who wanted to join them in building the temple. Last of all, they have to send away their own wives, several of whom had borne them children. They have to separate themselves, at whatever cost, from everything that was not Israel. This is what marks out faithfulness in a position like theirs.

A wife who was unfaithful to her husband committed a trespass... And those of the returned remnant who married foreign wives were guilty of trespass for that reason. In all these cases we can trace the mark of the sin that called for a trespass offering. God, or man, was cheated in one way or another of what was due to them.

They passed judgment in love. They spared no one and favoured no one, and they began with the priests. Their position made them more guilty than their brothers, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock. Having admitted their sin, they could bring no other sacrifice than this one. But because of their office, it mattered that their offering showed their humbling in the open.

These are instances of trespasses which God could not pass over, and for most of which the law could provide no sacrifice. The returned remnant did, it is true, offer a trespass-offering for their failure in the matter of the strange wives.

When they gave their promise to send away their foreign wives, they presented a ram as a trespass offering. Whenever we have been guilty of any sin, we must remember that Christ is "the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 2:1-2). If we think hard about the agony He suffered because of our sins, are we likely to drift back into sin again? So self-judgment should be real, and full.

It was sad indeed that there had been such failure among the remnant, the few who had returned to the place of God's choice! But we should not miss what else this list holds. These are the names of men who offered a ram for their trespass and gave their hand to put right what was wrong. In other words, the book of Ezra ends with a list of people who have been restored!

Nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out again, either to magnify His grace or, in the case of unbelievers, as the ground of righteous judgment.

First, the record gives the names of the priests who had fallen into sin, and these fall into two classes. Verse 18 names "the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers"; verses 20-22 name other priests. The first group, it seems, were counted the more guilty, and with reason. God in His grace had joined Jeshua with Zerubbabel as the leaders of His people in building His house.

A family of priests who bore this name. One of them had charge of the sixteenth course of priestly service. Some returned from exile, and two of these had married foreign wives. But there is no record of their descent from Aaron.

God's record is again before us in these names. The names of the priests come first. Theirs was the greater responsibility and guilt.

But this should not surprise us, for similar tragedies have been all too frequent. We need only point to Aaron and his two sons, Samuel and his sons, Eli and his sons, David and his sons, Hezekiah and his son Manasseh... The recognition of this fact should lead us to be much in prayer for the families of those who serve the Lord Jesus.

This leads to our second observation — nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

Notice that the names given are of those who put away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. Taking these wives was to their discredit. Putting them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, through the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

First, we are told how carefully and in what good order they carried out the difficult and distressing work of putting away the foreign wives, and so freed themselves from this worldly and sinful entanglement. If they had done it in an impulsive and reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord... Let us get out of such an entanglement in a way that is worthy of the Lord whom we serve and obey. If, for instance, someone has to bear a loss, let us accept the loss ourselves, instead of putting it on others.

Israel turned away from God, and then Judah did the same. That brought world power into the hands of the Gentiles, the nations outside Israel. Yet it did not cancel God's will for faithful men. Still less does the ruin of Christendom cancel it for the Christian now... We are called to do His will in obedience to His word; and we must do it, whatever the cost. The danger is in claiming freedom to be lax because everything is in ruin. A true heart would feel it a louder call to watch and pray.

First come the names of the priests who had fallen into sin, and they divide into two classes. In verse 18 there are "the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers"; and in verses 20-22 other priests. The first group were held, it seems, to be the more guilty — and with reason. God in His grace had joined Jeshua with Zerubbabel as the leaders of His people in building His house. It shows that they had lost all conscience about the character of their sin. "The lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." But in this case the priests had corrupted the people by their evil ways.

Judgment was pronounced in love, without any being spared, and without favouritism, beginning with the priests. These, whose position made them more guilty than their brothers, "offered a ram of the flock, as a trespass-offering for their guilt" (v. 19). Having acknowledged their sin, they could offer no other sacrifice except a trespass offering, but it was important, because of their office, that they should publicly express their humiliation by their offering.

And Ezra stands up again, and now charges them plainly with their sin. "You have broken faith," he says, "and married foreign women." For an Israelite this was the great mark of apostasy, as far as the people were concerned. It was apostasy from God in taking a strange god. It was apostasy from the people in taking foreign wives. It was a complete giving up of their holy place of separateness to the Lord.

We know what this must have been. We know how the wives would appeal to their husbands' love. We know how the poor children would be on their knees, asking why their fathers should disown them. What a scene of grief and pleading this must have been! It was a time of agony for many a father and mother in Israel who had been found out in their sin. But the truth is that there is no real repentance without deep grief and pain.

This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will produce that record — either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

The law demanded that these wives and children be sent away, for they were unclean. Israel had to refuse them entry into the congregation. How different it is under grace! In 1 Corinthians 7:10 and following, we read what grace has done. An unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife, and an unbelieving wife by the believing husband. Their children are not unclean, but holy.

First, the record gives the names of the priests who had fallen into sin, and it puts them in two groups. Verse 18 names "the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers"; verses 20-22 name other priests. The first group seem to have been counted the more guilty, and with reason. God in His grace had set Jeshua alongside Zerubbabel as the leaders of His people in building His house. Their fall shows that they had lost all sense of how serious their sin was. "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts;" but in this case the priests had corrupted the people by their evil ways. But now they were dealt with: "They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock." Notice that this is said only of Jeshua's relatives. The names of the rest — priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Israel — are given one by one.

Verse 23 speaks of Levites, verse 24 of singers, then verses 25-43 of others among the people. So we are reminded of this. However great our blessings, no one among God's people is automatically safe from the enemy's tempting.

This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. "We must all," says the apostle, "appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Notice too that the names given are the names of the men who sent the foreign wives away and offered a trespass offering. Taking those wives was to their discredit. Sending them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

When they gave their promise to put away their strange wives, they presented a ram as a trespass offering. Whenever we have sinned, we need to remember that Christ is "the propitiation for our sins." If we think seriously about the agony He suffered because of our sins, are we likely to slip back into sin so carelessly? So self-judgment should be real, and full.

Marrying the foreign wives was the sin, so you might expect the wives to be mentioned first. But what had led to these marriages? Mixing with the people of the land. That was the root of the trouble, so Ezra deals with it first. It is the same in every turning away from God: until you find the root, nothing is gained, and restoration is impossible.

So every one of these unequal yokes had to be broken, regardless of what either party felt about it. This was under law. Under grace today, if someone finds himself in an unequal yoke, the general principle is this. He should leave it if he can do so without being unfair to the other person... Marriage is not as simple as that, because Scripture tells the believer, "the wife should not separate from her husband."

Then follows the list of the men who had married the foreign women. God's record is again before us in these names. The names of the priests come first. Theirs was the greater responsibility and guilt… In all, seventeen priests were guilty, and six Levites. Verse 24 gives the guilty singers and gatekeepers by name. Then come eighty-six more names, of men who had all defiled themselves with foreign women.

They found more than a hundred men, four of them priests, who gave a pledge to send away their wives and offer the trespass offering required. Their names follow without respect of persons.

This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records everything we do. One day He will bring it all out, either to magnify His grace, or (if we include unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment.

They flatly refused to let the people of the land share in the work, when those people wanted to join them in building the temple. And finally they had to deal with their own wives, several of whom had borne them children. They had to put them away, and to separate themselves, at whatever cost, from everything that was not Israel. This is what marks out faithfulness in a position like theirs: a remnant that had come out from Babylon, busy restoring the temple and the service of God with what was still left to them.

We know how the wives would appeal to their husbands' love, and how the poor children would be on their knees to ask why their fathers should disown them. But the truth is that there is no real repentance without deep grief and pain. This is especially so where the sin is not that of a sinner only, but of the people of God. They have a deep sense that, as God's people, they have brought His name into such contempt, and this has gone on, it may be, for years.

Levite who had married a foreign wife. Ezra 10:23. He assisted Ezra in explaining the law and sealed the covenant.

We are called to do His will in obedience to His word, and we must do it, whatever the cost. The danger comes from excusing slackness because of a state of ruin. A true heart would feel it a louder call to watch and pray.

There were also singers (v. 41), who were there to give praise to God. And there were gatekeepers (v. 42), who were responsible to keep out everything that would interfere with the Lord's glory.

The singers gave the Lord His portion. Only the redeemed can sing the songs of Zion. So the gatekeepers must be faithful in carrying out their responsibilities, if the Lord is to have His portion. To let in those without divine qualifications is to admit those who cannot sing. If the gatekeepers are lax, the singers suffer loss. Where the gatekeepers are lax, worship dies.

Often the soul deceives itself even by confession — confession that never judges the sin. Ezra knew the word and the ways of God too well to allow this. So there must be self-judgment and separation from the evil, as well as confession of it. The order of the separation is also most instructive — "from the people of the land, and from the foreign wives." Marrying the foreign wives had been the sin. So you might expect the wives to be named first. But what had led to these marriages? Association with the people of the land. This was the root of the trouble, and Ezra deals with it first. So it is with every departure from God. Until you find the root, you gain nothing, and restoration is impossible.

Nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil" (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Israel fell away from God, and then Judah did too. That is what led to the Gentile nations taking world power. But it did not cancel God's will for faithful men. Even less does the ruin of Christendom cancel it for the Christian now... We are called to do His will in obedience to His word; and this is binding, whatever the cost. The danger is claiming laxity because of a state of ruin. A true heart would feel it a louder call to watch and pray.

Notice that the names given are of those who put away the foreign wives and offered a guilt offering. Taking these wives was to their discredit. Putting them away was to their credit. So their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

There had been such failure among the remnant — the minority who had returned to the place of God's choice. That was truly sad. But we should not miss this: the list contains the names of those who "offered a ram for their trespass" and "gave their hand" to put right what was wrong (v. 19). In other words, the book of Ezra ends with a list of restored people!

Then follows the list of the men who had married the foreign women. God's record is again before us in these names. The names of the priests come first. Theirs was the greater responsibility and guilt. The sons of Joshua head the list... In all, seventeen priests were guilty, and six Levites. Verse 24 names the guilty singers and gatekeepers. Then follow eighty-six more names who had all defiled themselves with foreign women.

Verse 16 is clear: not only Ezra but certain chief fathers, all of them named, were set apart and sat down to examine the matter. These carried out the task in order; whereas only four had stood up against this proposal. They found more than a hundred men, four of priestly rank, who promised to send away their wives and to offer the trespass-offering required. Their names follow, with no regard for anyone's rank.

Notice that the names given are of those who put away the foreign wives, and offered a trespass offering. It was certainly to their discredit that they had taken these wives. But putting them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

The names of the rest — priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Israel — are given one by one. This leads to our second observation: nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. The apostle says, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

In Nehemiah 3:25 we find Pedaiah the son of Parosh. Several of his brothers had taken foreign wives (Ezra 10:25). Later he is present at the reading of the covenant (Neh. 8:4), and served as one of the storekeepers over the storehouses of the Levites (Neh. 13:13).

They refuse outright to let the people of the land share in the work, when those people wanted to join them in building the temple. And last of all, they have to put away their own wives, several of whom had borne them children. They have to separate themselves, at whatever cost, from all that was not Israel. This is what marks faithfulness in a position like theirs.

Where there is confession of failure there is hope. Shechaniah put it well: "We have broken faith with our God… but even now there is hope for Israel." I do not think he took it lightly. In fact, his father was among the 'problem cases' (verse 26).

Shecaniah first responded to the appeal (verses 2-4). We do not hear that he was personally unfaithful, but it seems his own father was (compare verse 26). Yet he confesses, "We have broken faith." He calls for repentance shown in putting away the evil and its fruit, and he leaves Ezra to carry out the judgment.

This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records everything we do. One day He will bring it all out, either to magnify His grace, or (if we include unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. The apostle says: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

And Ezra stands up again, and charges them plainly with their sin. "You have broken faith," he says, "and married foreign women." For an Israelite this was the great mark of apostasy, as far as the people were concerned. It meant turning away from God by taking a strange god, and turning away from the people by taking foreign wives. It was a complete giving up of their holy place of separateness to the Lord. "Now then," he says, "make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers and do His will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives" (vv. 10-11).

The law demanded that Israel send these wives and children away. They were unclean, and the congregation of Israel had to refuse them. How different it is under grace! In 1 Corinthians 7:10 and following, we read what grace has done. The believing wife sanctifies her unbelieving husband, and the believing husband sanctifies his unbelieving wife. Their children are not unclean, but holy.

We know what this must have been. The wives would appeal to their husbands' love. The poor children would be on their knees, asking why their fathers should disown them. It must have been a scene of grief and pleading. For many a father and mother in Israel, now found out in their sin, it was a time of agony. But the truth is that there is no real repentance without deep grief and pain. This is even more so when the sin belongs not to one sinner only, but to the people of God, who sense that, as His people, they have brought His name into contempt.

Ezra closes with a list of offenders (v.18-44). It was a matter that split families apart. It was sad indeed that the remnant failed like this! They were the minority who had returned to the place of God's choice. But on the other hand, we should not overlook something. This list contains the names of those who 'offered a ram for their trespass' and 'gave their hand' to put right what was wrong (v.19). In other words, the book of Ezra ends with a list of people who have been restored!

Ancestor of some who returned from exile. Ezra 2:8; Neh. 7:13. Several of the family married foreign wives. Ezra 10:27.

It was not in Babylon, but in Judaea, that they were doing what the Canaanites did. It was not the people who were far away from Jerusalem. It was the people and the priests here who had slipped away from the will of the Lord... Let us then look earnestly to God, but let us remember this: all true blessing for us must begin with individual blessing, and the secret of individual blessing will always be found to have its root in self-judgment before God.

The names of the rest — priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and Israel — are given one by one. This leads to our second observation: nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions, and one day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (if we include unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. "We must all," says the apostle, "appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

They found more than a hundred men, four of them priests, who gave a pledge to send away their wives and offer the trespass-offering required. Their names follow without respect of persons (verses 18-44).

It is a sad and humbling fact that many true and devoted servants of our Lord have had sons who have not followed in their father's footsteps. The recognition of this fact should lead us to be much in prayer for the families of those who serve the Lord Jesus.

Notice that the names given are of those who sent away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. Taking these wives was to their discredit. Sending them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record.

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 what was wrong (v.19). In other words, the book of Ezra ends with a list of people who have been restored!

We know what a scene of grief and pleading this must have been. It was a time of agony for many a father and mother in Israel whose sin had been found out. But the truth is that there is no real repentance without deep grief and pain.

Had it been done in an impulsive and reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord. This too may have something to say to us... Let us get out of it in a way that is worthy of the Lord whom we serve and obey. If, for instance, someone has to bear a loss, let us take the loss ourselves instead of putting it on others.

Verse 16 makes clear that not only Ezra but certain chief fathers — all of them named — were set apart, and they sat down to examine the matter. They carried out the task in order. Only four men had stood up against the proposal. More than a hundred were found, four of them priests. They promised to send away their wives and to offer the trespass offering required. Their names follow, and no one's position won him any favour.

They gave their hands that they would put away their wives, and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. Note that this is only said of the relatives of Jeshua. The record names the rest one by one — priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Israel. This leads to our second observation: nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out again, either to magnify His grace, or, if we include unbelievers, as the ground of righteous judgment. "We must all," says the apostle, "appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

Notice that the names given are of those who put away the foreign wives, and offered a trespass offering. Taking these wives was certainly to their discredit. But putting them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

Two or three whose descendants returned from exile. Ezra 2:11; Ezra 8:11; Ezra 10:28; Neh. 7:16. And one who sealed the covenant. Neh. 10:15.

First, we are told how carefully and in what good order they carried out the hard and painful work of putting away the foreign wives, and so freeing themselves from this worldly and sinful entanglement. If they had done it in an impulsive and reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord. This too may have a voice for us... If, for instance, it means that someone must bear a loss, let us accept the loss ourselves, instead of putting it on others.

Still, here we see that the grace of God is equal to every difficulty. All that we need is a single eye, and that was all they needed too... In a day like this, faithfulness can never be separated from a willingness to see where we have been wrong. It means a readiness to see it, and a heart so subject to the word of God that it keeps searching and seeing.

Notice that the names given are of those who sent away the foreign wives and offered a guilt offering. Taking these wives was to their discredit. Sending them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, through the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

Among the names given we find (Ezra 10) those who had married foreign wives. In faithfulness to God they broke the closest ties of all. They gave up wife and children, and God recorded their names in His book. He gives them honourable mention, because they preferred serving the LORD to the comforts of home.

Judgment was pronounced in love. No one was spared and no one was favoured, and it began with the priests. Their position made them more guilty than their brothers, and their "guilt offering was a ram of the flock" (v. 19)... Next come the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and last of all those "of Israel". The list is a long one, but what grace! The restoration is carried through without any new division. It comes by humiliation, which becomes a source of decision and energy, and by the ministry of the Word.

"Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them" (v. 15). What motives turned them to this path of opposition? We are not told. At the very most, we might suppose one thing. If one of them is the same Meshullam as the Levite of verse 29, then he had taken part in the evil himself. That would give him personal reasons for opposing the decision of the assembly. This opposition was completely against the mind of God. So what do those who have decided to purify themselves do? They do not exclude their brothers. They bear with them, and the self-will of these few needs no other judgment than the decisive action of the majority... Later we have the joy of seeing Shabbethai the Levite used to help the people understand the law, and then set over the outward business of the house of God (Neh. 8:7; Neh. 11:16).

Too often the soul deceives itself even by confession — confession without judging the sin... The order of the separation is also most instructive: "from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives." Marrying the foreign wives had been the sin. So we might expect these wives to be mentioned first. But what had led to these marriages? Mixing with the peoples of the land. This was the root of the trouble, and so Ezra deals with it first. In every departure from God it is the same. Until you find the root, nothing is gained and restoration is impossible.

Israel turned away from God, and then Judah did too. That is what brought in the world-power of the Gentiles. Yet it did not cancel God's will for faithful men. Still less does the ruin of Christendom cancel it for the Christian now... We are called to do His will in obedience to His word, and we must do it whatever the cost. The danger is that we claim the right to be slack because everything is in ruins. A true heart would hear in the ruin a louder call to watch and pray.

Notice that the names given are of those who sent away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. Taking those wives was to their discredit. Sending them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, through the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day they will be brought out, either to magnify His grace, or (if we include unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. "We must all," says the apostle, "appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

Verse 23 speaks of Levites, verse 24 of singers, and verses 25-43 of others of the people. So we are reminded of this: however much we may be blessed, none of God's people are automatically exempt from being tested by the enemy's temptations.

More than a hundred were found, four of them priests, who promised to send away their wives and offer the trespass offering required. Their names follow, with no favour shown to anyone (verses 18-44).

Sadly, someone can confess wrong-doing and still go on with it in more subtle, hidden ways. Someone can also see that a certain kind of wrong-doing does not pay, and give it up, without ever confessing that it was wrong. But when conviction of sin is genuine, he first confesses the sin, and then gives it up. Proverbs 28:13 clearly points to this.

When they promised to send away their foreign wives, they presented a ram as a trespass offering. Whenever we have been guilty of any sin, we need to remember that Christ is "the propitiation for our sins" (1 Jn.2:1-2). If we think seriously about the agony He suffered because of our sins, are we likely to slip carelessly back into sin again? So self-judgment should be real, and full.

First, we are told how carefully and in what good order they did the difficult and distressing work of sending away the foreign wives, and so freed themselves from this worldly and sinful entanglement. Had they done it in an impulsive and reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord. This too may have a voice for us. As we grow in grace, and our understanding of the will of God grows wider, we may become aware that something we thought little of is really a spiritual entanglement and hindrance. Let us get out of it in a way that is worthy of the Lord whom we serve and obey. If, for instance, it means a loss somewhere, let us take the loss ourselves, instead of putting it on others.

More than a hundred were found, four of priestly rank, who gave a pledge to send away their wives and to offer the trespass offering required. Their names follow, with no favouritism.

The names of the rest — priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Israel — are given one by one. This leads to a second observation: nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records everything we do. One day He will produce it, either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Among the names given we find (Ezra 10) those who had married foreign wives. In faithfulness to God they broke the tenderest ties, giving up wife and children; and their names are recorded in the book of God. They receive honourable mention, for they preferred the service of the Lord to the warmth of home.

We know how the wives would appeal to their husbands' love. We know how the poor children would be on their knees, asking why their fathers should disown them. What a scene of grief and pleading this must have been. What a time of agony for many a father and mother in Israel who had been found out in their sin. But the truth is that there is no real repentance without deep grief and pain.

Too often the soul deceives itself even by confession — confession without judging the sin. Ezra knew the word and the ways of God too well to allow that. There must be self-judgment and separation from the evil, as well as confession of it. The order of the separation is also instructive: "from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives." The sin had been marrying the foreign wives, so you might expect the wives to come first. But what had led to these marriages? Association with the people of the land. This was the root of the mischief, and Ezra deals first with it. So it is in every departure from God: until you find the root, nothing is gained, and restoration is impossible.

Notice that the names given are of those who put away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. Taking these wives was certainly to their discredit. But putting them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

Had it been done in an impulsive and reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord. This too may have a voice for us. As we grow in grace and understand the will of God better, we may see that something we thought little of is truly a spiritual entanglement and hindrance. Let us get out of it in a way that is worthy of the Lord whom we serve and obey. If, for instance, someone must bear a loss, let us take the loss ourselves instead of putting it on others.

More than a hundred were found, four of priestly rank, who gave a pledge to send away their wives and offer the trespass offering required. Their names follow without respect of persons (verses 18-44).

Levites are spoken of in verse 23, and singers in verse 24, then others of the people in verses 25-43. So we are reminded of this: however richly we may be blessed, none of God's people are automatically spared the enemy's temptations.

This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil" (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Notice that the names given are the names of men who put away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. Taking these wives was to their discredit. But putting them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra. He had indeed been "a ready scribe in the law of Moses."

Too often the soul deceives itself even by confession — confession without judging the sin. Ezra knew the word and the ways of God too well to allow this. So there must be self-judgment and separation from the evil, as well as confession of it. The order of the separation is also very instructive — "from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives." Marrying the foreign wives had been the sin. So you might expect the wives to be named first. But what had led to these marriages? Association with the peoples of the land. This was the root of the trouble, and Ezra deals with it first. So it is in every turning away from God. Until we find the root, nothing is gained and restoration is impossible.

First, we are told how carefully and in what good order they did the hard and painful work of putting away the foreign wives. That is how they freed themselves from this worldly and sinful entanglement. Had it been done in an impulsive and reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord. This too may have a voice for us. As we grow in grace, we understand the will of God better. Then we may see that something we thought little of is truly a spiritual entanglement and hindrance. Let us get out of it in a way that is worthy of the Lord whom we serve and obey. If, for instance, someone must bear a loss, let us take the loss ourselves instead of putting it on others.

Such an action certainly shows the seriousness of the evil of sinful associations. We must not make it less serious than it is. Yet in our day, under grace, we cannot demand that wives be put away, even if they are not saved. The nations Israel was mixing with worshipped demons. That is why God had completely forbidden any marriage with them. Believers today are not under such a law, though they are told, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14). If they disobey this scripture, they are not told to put away the unbeliever. Instead, "the wife should not separate from her husband" (1 Corinthians 7:10).

They began the agreed examination on the first day of the first month — the time of the New Year, the new beginning. Then follows the list of the men who had married the foreign women. God's record is again before us in these names. The names of the priests come first. Theirs was the greater responsibility and guilt. In all, seventeen priests were guilty, and six Levites... Then follow eighty-six more names of men who had all defiled themselves with foreign women.

Levites are spoken of in verse 23, and singers in verse 24, then others of the people in verses 25-43. So we are reminded that, however much we may be blessed, no one among God's people is automatically safe from the enemy's temptations.

Notice that the names given are of those who put away the foreign wives, and offered a trespass offering. It was to their discredit that they had taken these wives. But putting them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

Among the names given we find those who had married foreign wives. In faithfulness to God they broke the tenderest ties and gave up wife and children. The book of God records their names. It mentions them with honour, for they preferred the service of the Lord to the affections of home. It speaks even more to believers now. If they as Israelites were to be separate from the nations, so in a far higher sense the church of God ought to be separate from the world.

We know what this must be. We know how the wives would appeal to their husbands' love. We know how the poor children would be on their knees, asking why their fathers should disown them. We know what a scene of grief and pleading this must have been. It was a time of agony for many a father and mother in Israel whose sin had come to light. But the truth is that there is no real repentance without deep grief and pain.

Too often the soul deceives itself even by confession — confession without judging the sin. Ezra knew the word and the ways of God too well to allow this. There had to be self-judgment and separation from the evil, as well as confession of it. The order of the separation is most instructive too — "from the peoples of the land and from the foreign women." Since marrying the foreign wives had been the sin, we might expect those marriages to be mentioned first. But what had led to these marriages? Association with the people of the land. This was the root of the mischief, and Ezra deals first with it. So it is in every departure from God. Until the root is found, nothing is gained, and restoration is impossible.

Nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or, in the case of unbelievers, as the ground of righteous judgment. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Notice that the names given are of those who sent away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. Taking these wives was certainly to their discredit. But sending them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

Levites are spoken of in verse 23, and singers in verse 24, then others of the people in verses 25-43. So we are reminded of this. However greatly we may be blessed, none of God's people are automatically safe from being tested by the enemy's seductions.

They found more than a hundred men, four of them priests, who pledged to send away their wives and to offer the trespass offering required. Their names follow, with no favour shown to anyone.

Too often the soul deceives itself even by confession — confession without judging the sin. … The order of the separation is also very instructive: "from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives." Marrying the foreign wives had been the sin, so you might expect those wives to be mentioned first. But what had led to these marriages? Association with the people of the land. This was the root of the mischief, and Ezra deals first with it. It is the same in every departure from God. Until you find the root, nothing is gained and restoration is impossible.

The names of the rest — priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and Israel — are given one by one. This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (if we include unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. The apostle says, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

Such an action certainly shows the seriousness of the evil of sinful associations. We must not make light of this. Yet in our day, under grace, we cannot demand that wives be sent away, even when they are not saved. The nations Israel was mixing with were demon worshippers, so God had completely forbidden any marriages with them. Believers today are not under such a law, though they are told, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers" (2 Cor. 6:14). If they disobey this scripture, they are not told to put away the unbeliever. Rather, "the wife should not separate from her husband" (1 Cor. 7:10), though "if the unbelieving partner desires to separate, let it be so" (1 Cor. 7:15). Once the marriage is consummated, the believer is not free before God to leave it, except when the partner has been unfaithful (Matthew 19:9). Today a believer who marries an unbeliever must learn the painful results of this disobedience by experience, instead of being spared them.

Verse 23 speaks of Levites, verse 24 of singers, and verses 25-43 of others of the people. So we are reminded of this: however much we may be blessed, none of God's people are automatically safe from the enemy's attempts to seduce them.

And Ezra stands up again, and now charges them plainly with their sin. "You have trespassed," he says, "and married foreign women." For an Israelite this was the great mark of apostasy, as far as the people were concerned. It was turning away from God by taking a foreign god, and turning away from the people by taking foreign wives. It was a complete giving up of their holy place of separateness to the Lord.

Too often the soul deceives itself even by confession — confession without judging the sin. Ezra knew the word and the ways of God far too well to allow this. So there must be self-judgment and separation from the evil, as well as confession of it. The order of the separation is also most instructive — "from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives." Marrying the foreign wives had been the sin, so you might expect these to be named first. But what had led to these marriages? Association with the people of the land. This was the root of the mischief, and Ezra deals first with it. So in every departure from God, nothing is gained until the root is found, and restoration is impossible.

Nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. The apostle says, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

Notice that the names given are of those who put away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. Taking these wives was to their discredit. But putting them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

Among the names given in Ezra 10 we find those who had married foreign wives. In faithfulness to God they broke the dearest ties of all. They gave up wife and children, and God has recorded their names in His book. They receive honourable mention, for they preferred the service of the Lord to the comforts of home... To give up all in entire separation to God is not only a privilege, but our "spiritual worship." (Rom. 12:1)

If it had been done in an impulsive and reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord... If, for instance, it means a loss for someone, let us accept the loss ourselves, instead of putting it on others.

So every one of these unequal yokes had to be broken... This was under law... for Scripture tells the believer, "the wife should not separate from her husband" (1 Cor. 7:10).

This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (if we include unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. As the apostle says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

The examination of the whole matter, as agreed, began on the first day of the first month (Nisan, our March–April). That was the time of the New Year, the new beginning set out in Exodus 12:1. Then comes the list of the men who had married the foreign women. The names of the priests come first. Theirs was the greater responsibility and guilt. ... In all, seventeen priests were guilty, and six Levites. Verse 24 gives the guilty singers and porters by name. Then follow eighty-six more names of men who had all defiled themselves with foreign women.

It shows that they had completely lost any conscience about the character of their sin. "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts" — but in this case the priests had corrupted the people by their evil ways.

Notice that the names given are the names of men who put away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. Taking these wives was certainly to their discredit. But putting them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

We know what this must have been like. The wives would appeal to their husbands' love. The poor children would be on their knees, asking why their fathers should disown them. It must have been a scene of grief and pleading — a time of agony for many a father and mother in Israel caught out in their sin. But the truth is that there is no real repentance without deep grief and pain.

Among the names given in Ezra 10 we find those who had married foreign wives. In faithfulness to God they broke the tenderest ties, giving up wife and children; and God records their names in His book. He gives them honourable mention, for they preferred the service of the LORD to the comforts of home.

Israel fell away, and then Judah, and the Gentile empires took power. Yet none of that cancelled God's will for faithful men. Still less does the ruin of the Christian world cancel it for the Christian now... We are called to do His will in obedience to His word, and we must do it whatever the cost. The danger lies in claiming freedom to be slack because everything is in ruins. A true heart would hear in that ruin a louder call to watch and pray.

The list names Levites in verse 23, singers in verse 24, then others of the people in verses 25-43. So we are reminded of this. However greatly we may be blessed, the enemy can try to seduce any of God's people.

Too often the soul deceives itself even by confession — confession without judging the sin. Ezra knew the word and the ways of God too well to allow that. There had to be self-judgment and separation from the evil, as well as confession of it. The order of the separation is also very instructive — "from the people of the land and from the foreign wives." Marrying the foreign wives had been the sin, so you might expect the wives to come first. But what had led to these marriages? Association with the people of the land. This was the root of the mischief, and Ezra deals first with it. It is the same in every departure from God. Until you find the root, you gain nothing, and restoration is impossible.

Nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or — in the case of unbelievers — as the ground of righteous judgment. The apostle says, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

Among the names given we find (Ezra 10) those who had married foreign wives. To stay faithful to God they broke the dearest ties of all and gave up wife and children. God recorded their names in His book. Honourable mention is made of them, for they preferred the service of the Lord to the endearments of home... They were Israelites, and they had to stay separate from the other nations. In a far higher sense, the church of God ought to be separate from the world.

On the first day of the tenth month, Ezra and the heads of the families "sat down… to examine the matter." These were men who knew the Word well, wise men whom the people respected. The evil was plain. It was not a question of whether it existed. Each case needed its own discernment and judgment according to God. Three full months were enough to set this huge difficulty in order (vv. 16, 17). They pronounced judgment in love. They spared no one and showed no favouritism, and they began with the priests... The list is a long one, but what grace! The restoration happens without any new break. It comes through humbling that becomes a source of decision and energy, and through the ministry of the Word.

Had it been done in an impulsive and reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord... As we grow in grace and understand God's will better, we may see that something we thought little of is really a spiritual entanglement and hindrance. Let us get out of it in a way that is worthy of the Lord whom we serve and obey. If getting out of it costs someone a loss, let us take that loss ourselves instead of putting it on others.

Every one of these unequal yokes had to be broken, whatever either party felt about it. This was under law. Under grace today, the general principle for someone in an unequal yoke is to leave it if he can do so without injustice to the other party... Marriage is not as simple as that, for Scripture tells the believer, "the wife should not separate from her husband" (1 Cor. 7:10).

Ezra stands up again, and now charges them plainly with their sin. "You have transgressed," he says, "and have taken foreign wives." As far as the people were concerned, this was the great mark of apostasy for an Israelite. It was apostasy from God, in taking a strange god; and apostasy from the people, in taking foreign wives. It was a complete giving up of their holy place of separateness to the Lord.

The names of the rest — priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and Israel — are given one by one. This leads to a further observation: nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out again, either to magnify His grace, or — if we include unbelievers — as the ground of righteous judgment. The apostle says, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

And more than a hundred were found, four of priestly rank, who gave their pledge to send away their wives and offer the trespass offering required. Their names follow without respect of persons (vv. 18-44).

Then follows the list of the men who had married the strange women. God's record is again before us in these names. The names of the priests come first. Theirs was the greater responsibility and guilt. The sons of Joshua head the list. What an illustration of what man is! The sons of the high priest, along with Zerubbabel, had been great instruments of the Lord to lead the first captives home. Yet they corrupted themselves with these women. ... In all, seventeen priests were guilty, and six Levites. The guilty singers and gatekeepers are given by name in verse 24. Then follow eighty-six more names who had all defiled themselves by strange women.

Levites are spoken of in verse 23, and singers in verse 24, then others of the people in verses 25-43. So we are reminded of this: however great our blessings, none of God's people are automatically free from being tested by the enemy's temptations.

They flatly refuse any share in the work to the people of the land who wished to join them in building the temple. And last of all, they have to deal with their own wives, several of whom had borne them children. They have to put them away, and to separate themselves, at whatever cost, from all that was not Israel. It is this which marks out faithfulness in a position like theirs.

So every one of these unequal yokes had to be broken, whatever either party felt about it. This was under law. Under grace today, suppose someone finds himself in an unequal yoke. The general principle is that he should leave it if he can do so without injustice toward the other party. Suppose it is a business yoke. If a believer has committed himself to a contract, he may find the only right way to break the contract is to buy himself out of it, which he should do if possible. It is not this simple in marriage, for Scripture tells the believer, "the wife should not separate from her husband" (1 Cor. 7:10). ... How thankful we ought to be that we are living under grace rather than under law!

The names of the rest — priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and Israel — are given one by one. This leads to our second observation: nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or, in the case of unbelievers, as the ground of righteous judgment.

How sad, you may say, that a book of revival should end on such a sombre note! Ezra closes with a list of offenders (v.18-44). It was sad that such failure had happened among the remnant, the minority who had returned to the place of God's choice. But 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 (v.19). In other words, the book of Ezra ends with a list of people who have been restored!

Notice that the names given are of those who put away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. It was to their discredit that they had taken these wives, but putting them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

The list names Levites in verse 23, singers in verse 24, then others of the people in verses 25-43. So we are reminded that, however greatly we may be blessed, the enemy's seductions can test any one of God's people.

Verse 16 is clear that not only Ezra but certain heads of families, all of them named, were set apart and sat down to examine the matter. They carried out the task in order. More than a hundred men were found, four of them priests, who promised to send away their wives and offer the trespass offering required. Their names follow with no favouritism (verses 18-44).

If they had done it in an impulsive, reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord. This may have something to say to us too. As we grow in grace and our understanding of God's will grows, we may see that something we once thought little of is a real spiritual entanglement and hindrance. Let us get out of it in a way that is worthy of the Lord whom we serve and obey. If, for instance, someone has to take a loss, let us take it ourselves instead of putting it on others.

So every one of these unequal yokes had to be broken, whatever either party felt about it. This was under law. Under grace today, if one should find himself in an unequal yoke, the general principle is that he should leave it if he can do so without injustice toward the other party... It is not this simple in marriage, for Scripture tells the believer, "the wife should not separate from her husband" (1 Corinthians 7:10).

We are called to do His will in obedience to His word, and this is binding, whatever the cost. The danger is in claiming that a state of ruin allows us to be slack.

More than a hundred were found, four of priestly rank, who gave pledge to send away their wives and offer the trespass-offering required. Their names follow without respect of persons (vv. 18-44).

Notice that the names given are those of the men who sent away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. Taking these wives was to their discredit. Sending them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

To be faithful to God they broke the dearest ties of all. They gave up wife and children, and God records their names in His book. He mentions them with honour, for they chose the service of the LORD over the comforts of home... If they as Israelites were to be separate from the nations, then in a far higher sense the church of God should be separate from the world.

This leads to our second observation — that nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. The apostle says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

We know what a scene of grief and pleading this must have been. It was a time of agony for many a father and mother in Israel whose sin had been found out like this. But the truth is that there is no real repentance without deep grief and pain. That is even more true when the sin is not the sin of one sinner only, but the sin of the people of God. They feel deeply that, as God's people, they have brought His name into contempt.

So every one of these unequal yokes had to be broken, whatever either side felt about it. This was under law. Under grace today, if someone finds himself in an unequal yoke, the general rule is that he should leave it, if he can do so without being unjust to the other party... Marriage is not so simple, for Scripture tells the believer, "the wife should not separate from her husband" (1 Cor. 7:10).

As we grow in grace and understand the will of God better, we may see that something we thought little of is in fact a spiritual entanglement and a hindrance. Let us get out of it in a way that is worthy of the Lord whom we serve and obey. If, for example, it means a loss somewhere, let us take the loss ourselves instead of putting it on others.

More than a hundred were found, four of priestly rank, who gave a pledge to send away their wives and to offer the trespass offering required. Their names follow without respect of persons.

Nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (in the case of unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. The apostle says: "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Notice that the names given are of those who put away the strange wives and offered a trespass offering. It was surely to their discredit that they had taken these wives, but the putting away of them was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, as the result of the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

The names of the priests come first. Theirs was the greater responsibility and guilt. The sons of Joshua head the list. What a picture of what man is! The sons of the high priest had been, with Zerubbabel, great instruments of the Lord in leading the first captives back — and yet they corrupted themselves with these women. Six Levites were guilty too, and the guilty singers and gatekeepers are named. Then follow eighty-six more names of men who had all defiled themselves with foreign women.

However much we may be blessed, no one among God's people is automatically exempt from being tested by the enemy's temptations.

Marrying the strange wives had been the sin, so we might expect the wives to be mentioned first. But what had led to these marriages? Association with the people of the land. This was the root of the trouble, and Ezra deals with it first. So it is in every departure from God: until we find the root, nothing is gained and restoration is impossible.

We are told how carefully and in what good order they carried out the difficult and distressing work of putting away the strange wives. That is how they freed themselves from this worldly and sinful entanglement. If they had done it in an impulsive and reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord... Let us get out of any such entanglement in a way that is worthy of the Lord whom we serve and obey. If that means a loss somewhere, let us accept the loss ourselves, instead of putting it on others.

Every one of these unequal yokes had to be broken, no matter how either party felt about it. This was under law. Today, under grace, the general principle for someone in an unequal yoke is that he should leave it — if he can do so without injustice toward the other party. But marriage is not so simple, for Scripture tells the believer, "the wife should not separate from her husband" (1 Cor. 7:10)... How thankful we ought to be that we are living under grace rather than under law!

Verse 23 speaks of Levites, verse 24 of singers, and verses 25-43 of others of the people. This reminds us of one thing: no matter how greatly we are blessed, the enemy can still tempt any of God's people.

They found more than a hundred men, four of them priests, who pledged to send away their wives and to offer the trespass-offering required. Their names follow, with no regard for a man's rank (verses 18-44).

Nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or — if we include unbelievers — as the ground of righteous judgment.

Notice that the names given are of those who put away the foreign wives and offered a trespass offering. Taking these wives was certainly to their discredit. But sending them away was to their credit, and so their names appear in the record. They were, as we might now put it, backsliders restored, through the faithful ministry and action of Ezra.

The evil was obvious. The question was not whether it existed. Each case deserved its own discernment and judgment according to God. Three full months were enough to set this huge difficulty in order. They pronounced judgment in love, sparing no one and favouring no one, beginning with the priests. The list is a long one, but what grace! The restoration came without any new split. It came through a humbling that became a source of decision and energy, and through the ministry of the Word.

The falling away of Israel, and then of Judah, led to the world-power of the Gentiles. Even so, it did not cancel God's will for faithful men. Still less does the ruin of the Christian world cancel it for the Christian now… We are called to do His will in obedience to His word, and we must, whatever the cost. The danger is in claiming laxity because things are in ruins. A true heart would feel that to be a louder call to watch and pray.

Ezra stands up again, and now charges them plainly with their sin. "You have transgressed," he says, "and have taken foreign wives" — the great mark of apostasy for an Israelite, as far as the people were concerned. It was apostasy from God in taking a foreign god, and apostasy from the people by taking foreign wives. It was a complete giving up of their holy place of separateness to the Lord.

And who would say it did not hurt? Over 100 men had offended in this way, and some of the women had borne children (v.44). But it was better to obey God now and bear the governmental consequences of their sin than to continue in it.

Finally there were their own wives, several of whom had borne them children. They have to put them away, and to separate themselves, at whatever cost, from all that was not Israel. This is what marks faithfulness in a position like theirs.

The law required them to send these wives and children away, for they were unclean. Israel's congregation could not receive them. How different it is under grace! In 1 Corinthians 7:10 and following, we read what grace has done even here. The believing wife sanctifies her unbelieving husband, and the believing husband sanctifies his unbelieving wife. Their children are not unclean, but holy.

Nothing escapes the eye of God. He weighs and records all our actions. One day He will bring them out, either to magnify His grace, or (if we include unbelievers) as the ground of righteous judgment. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil" (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Some, if not all, of the sons of Jeshua the priest had taken part in this sin. But really, this should not surprise us, for similar tragedies have been all too frequent... It is a sad and humbling fact. Many true and devoted servants of our Lord have had sons who did not follow in their father's footsteps. The recognition of this fact should lead us to be much in prayer for the families of those who serve the Lord Jesus.

Had it been done in an impulsive and reckless way, it might have brought further dishonour on the name of the Lord. This too may have a voice for us... we may come to see that something we thought little of is really a spiritual entanglement that holds us back. Let us get out of it in a way that is worthy of the Lord whom we serve and obey. If, for instance, someone must bear a loss, let us take it ourselves instead of putting it on others.

How sad, you may say, that a book of revival should end on such a sombre note!... But on the other hand, do not overlook what else this list holds. It names the men who "pledged themselves" and brought "a ram of the flock" as a guilt offering, to put right what was wrong (v.19). In other words, the book of Ezra ends with a list of people who have been restored!