06/02 ~ Ezra's Prayer: Standing Before a Righteous God - Ezra 9 & 10, Romans 3
As we conclude our study in the Book of Ezra, we come to a very weighty portion of Israel's history. Spiritual decline and compromise once again creep into the lives of God's remnant, even into the practices and lives of the priests and Levites. Intermarriage is rampant. Ezra's concern is not for Israel's pure bloodline; rather, he is overwhelmed by the willingness of God's people to unite themselves with the pagan culture, values, and religious practices. The intermarriage brought "new" gods into the families and people of Israel.
Ezra concludes that such rebellion resulted in tremendous and well-deserved guilt before the One God, the Lord who is righteous. The God who cannot ignore sin...who must punish disobedience. In fact, Ezra states that Israel's disregard for the terms of God's covenant is the reason for Israel's calamnities, enslavement, and captivity.
Obviously, there is great need for a reliable and qualified Rescuer and Deliverer. Our study has shown God's provision and revelation...and the fact that mankind has never been able to measure up to His standard. No one is righteous. No one seeks God. All have turned away. None fear God. The verdict is that everyone throughout all of history is guilty, without defense, without appeal, without the ability to work/earn his or her way into heaven: we are absolutely depraved.
Join us this week as we compare the verdict upon humanity from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans with the sorrowful words and judgment of Ezra.
