Friday, August 9
Read Ezra 9
Think About It:
- Verse 3 reveals Ezra’s heart and devotion to God. He was dismayed when he found the children of God (people and leaders) in grave disobedience to the laws of God. God’s conditions for forgiveness include our repentance, confession of, and forsaking of our sin. Have you become calloused to sin? Does sin disturb you? To mourn over sin is to be humbled when recognizing it.
- INTERESTING FACT: To give us a peg in His holy place: The idea is that Israel once again had a safe position, a standing in God’s favor and in His temple. In those days, houses didn’t really have cupboards or storage closets as we think of them. Things were stored on pegsset up all around the room. If something was on its peg, it was safe and secure, stored properly and ready for use at the appropriate time.
Only a few days before this, Ezra had seen the temple for the first time in his life. He was impressed that God had given His people a peg in His holy place once again and was therefore afraid that their casual disregard for this blessing would once again stir up the righteous anger of God (Enduring Word, 2018).
Family Time:
- From what had the people of Israel not separated themselves? (verses 1-2)
- How did Ezra consider the punishment of God? (verse 13)
