Upon arriving back in Jerusalem, Ezra doesn’t find everything perfect among the people. I imagine him arriving and there being a lot of celebration or that kind of glassy-eyed look that one gets when they start a new job. We often call it the “honeymoon phase.” Everything seems ok, nothing really going on to upset anyone. Everyone is happy that you’re there, no one is looking for problems. Ignorance is bliss… but not for Ezra. When he arrives in Jerusalem, he gets right to work. We read about him being set by Artaxerxes, the king Persia, who allows Ezra to return to his own land with any that want to go, and gives Ezra a blessing for his journey. Ezra rounds up the people, which are listed in chapter 8 and beings his long journey to Judah.

Esdras-Ezra was a Jewish priestly scribe who led about 5,000 Israelite exiles living in Babylon to their home city of Jerusalem in 459 BCE. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
So, when he arrives, it would be understandable for him to take a few days break before he gets to work… but not Ezra. No, he jumps in with both feet. No sooner has he arrived in Jerusalem than an official approaches him and lets him know what the situation is. Some of the people of God, the returned exiles have intermarried. This is a major violation of the Law of Moses. The people of Israel were God’s people, set apart by God Himself to be a holy nation, a “royal priesthood.” They were supposed to be the representatives of God to the world; a community blessed to be a blessing. Part of the Law that they were to follow was that they were not to intermarry with other nations. It was forbidden because of the nature of the people of God being set apart. It was also forbidden because God knew that the people would be drawn away from him and to the idols of the spouses of other nations. Its just asking for trouble really and God wanted to make sure that they weren’t exposing themselves to that kind of temptation.

Ezra Prays for the People
Photo Credit: www.dwellingintheword.wordpress.com
The prayer of Ezra is a beautiful prayer recognizing the sinful state that they are found in and the true fact that they are unable to do anything about it. He recounts the people’s current predicament and God’s amazing wonders, abundant faithfulness, and unconditional love. It kind of reminds me of Psalm 130:
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
Sadly, this particular passage of Scripture has been misquoted many times as a reason to Scripturally oppose inter-racial marriage. These people take the verses of Ezra completely out of context and think that it is ok to judge people because the person that they love is of a different race or ethnic background. That is simply not what is being said here. The Law of Moses was very clear on the reasons for not intermarrying with these certain culture. It had to do with the sin that they committed before the Lord and the overwhelming temptation that it would have brought on the people of Israel (not that they really needed it). God had chosen this people and set up the Law that He did so that the people of God would fulfill the purpose that God called them to, being a light and blessing to the nations. In any case, taking Scripture out of context and using it as proof texting for one’s own personal agenda or to further one’s own beliefs that do not jive with the rest of the Bible is wrong, and it proves nothing except ignorance. We have to remember that these things are written in a place and context in which we are not familiar.
Besides, today’s reading isn’t about the law that was broken and the sin that was done as much as it is about repentance that takes place and the forgiveness that is given. The people don’t simply discover the sin and say “oh well” as their fathers would have done before the exile. Instead, they repent and turn back to God and the Lord honors their repentance. Sadly though, Ezra ends here on a note of dissonance, pointing out that some of these inter-marriages have produced offspring. Now these families are broken… and that is where the book ends. Why do you think this is? Perhaps pointing out the difficulties in following God? Perhaps being a cliff hanger for Nehemiah? Maybe its just something to leave you thinking, and perhaps in some uncomfortable place as we try to figure out how God is at work here to. What do you think?
Related articles
- “Ezra?” (altruistico.wordpress.com)
- Book of Ezra (altruistico.wordpress.com)
- A man of the word (dailymedit.wordpress.com)
- A bit about holiness. (krisrite.wordpress.com)
- I Am Not Ashamed (handmaidathisfeet.com)
- Ezra 9 (dwellingintheword.wordpress.com)