In vv.2-4 a man named Shechaniah encourages Ezra to be strong and take action. now there is “Yet hope in Israel in spite of this,” Shechaniah says. Later, in Neh.8, Ezra’s own advice to the people was not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (v.10). All of us have experienced the wave “do of shame and guilt which sweeps over us when we realize how far short we have fallen of the glory of God. But like Shechaniah, we must realize that we can still turn to God for forgiveness and build anew. Study 2 Cor.7:8-11 to define sorrow” and explain how it can to salvation”. In “godly “lead contrast, explain how sorrow” can eat us up if we’re not careful. “worldly In v.5 Ezra arises and compels the leaders of the priests, the Levites and the people to swear an oath that they would commit to taking drastic steps to heal their nation before it decayed from the inside out. Incidentally, we read in v.18 that even some of Ezra’s own relatives had been implicated in this trespass. This was not a theoretical problem for Ezra— it was emotional and close to home. is a difficult section of scripture to understand. reviews some of the relevant Ezra 10 Appendix M scriptural principles on intermarriage with pagans and the issue of putting away. You may find it helpful to read through Appendix M before answering the next few questions. Read Ezra 10:7-17 and fill in the table below: ONE CAN BEFORE YOU BECAUSE OF THIS’ (9:15) ‘NO QUESTION REFERENCE COMMENTS What was their plan to restore 10:3,11 the spiritual integrity of the ecclesia? Whose advice were they acting 10:3,10-11 on? Was this in accordance with 10:11 God’s will, or not? In what way was the plan to be 10:3 implemented? What law is being referred to? Deut. 24 Who was to be put away: just the 10:3, 44 pagan wives, or their children as well? Who else was to be separated 10:11 from? Who supported this plan? Did 10:12,15-16 anyone resist it? What was the goal of this plan? 10:14 (cp. Num.25:11)
In vv.2-4 a man named Shechaniah encourages Ezra to be strong and take action. “Yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this,” Shechaniah says. Later, in Neh.8, Ezra’s own advice to the people was “do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (v.10). All of us have experienced the wave of shame and guilt which sweeps over us when we realize how far short we have fallen of the glory of God. But like Shechaniah, we must realize that we can still turn to God for forgiveness and build anew. Study 2 Cor.7:8-11 to define “godly sorrow” and explain how it can “lead to salvation”. In contrast, explain how “worldly sorrow” can eat us up if we’re not careful. In v.5 Ezra arises and compels the leaders of the priests, the Levites and the people to swear an oath that they would commit to taking drastic steps to heal their nation before it decayed from the inside out. Incidentally, we read in v.18 that even some of Ezra’s own relatives had been implicated in this trespass. This was not a theoretical problem for Ezra— it was emotional and close to home. Ezra 10 is a difficult section of scripture to understand. Appendix M reviews some of the relevant scriptural principles on intermarriage with pagans and the issue of putting away. You may find it helpful to read through Appendix M before answering the next few questions. Read Ezra 10:7-17 and fill in the table below: ‘NO ONE CAN BEFORE YOU BECAUSE OF THIS’ (9:15) QUESTION REFERENCE COMMENTS What was their plan to restore the spiritual integrity of the ecclesia? 10:3,11 Whose advice were they acting on? 10:3,10-11 Was this in accordance with God’s will, or not? 10:11 In what way was the plan to be implemented? 10:3 What law is being referred to? Deut. 24 Who was to be put away: just the pagan wives, or their children as well? 10:3, 44 Who else was to be separated from? 10:11 Who supported this plan? Did anyone resist it? 10:12,15-16 What was the goal of this plan? 10:14 (cp. Num.25:11)
ReturnOfExiles_part2.docx