Background:
I. The First Return and Rebuilding under Zerubbabel (chaps. 1–6)
C. The restoration begun (2:68–70)
D. The rebuilding of the temple (chaps. 3:1–6:15)
1. The altar and foundation rebuilt (chap. 3)
2. The rebuilding opposed (4:1–6:12)
3. The temple completed (6:13–15)
E. The dedication of the temple and the celebration of the Passover (6:16–22)
II. The Second Return and Reform under Ezra (chaps. 7–10)
A. The return to the land (chaps. 7–8)
1. The introduction of Ezra (7:1–10)
4. The details of the journey and arrival (8:15–36)
B. The reform in the land (chaps. 9–10)
1. The people’s sin of intermarriage (9:1–4)
Ob and In;
1. The sin of the post-exilic population, including their leaders and officials v.1-2
v.1a Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said,
(BKC) They realized that something had to be done about the situation if the nation was to enjoy fellowship with the Lord. Outward sacrifice was fine, but only if it was accompanied by an inward conformity to the Word of God (Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6–8).
Reflection: Do I have that awareness of our faith community (church)? Do I have that awareness for myself? Does thing just look good from the outside and not from the inside? Even the altar, the foundation and even the temple were completed. There were still major issues that needed to be deal with. How about our church? Even we have the hardware all set, are we all set in our software? Pray for our church leaders, elders and pastors.
v.1b “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
(BKC) The peoples listed in Ezra 9:1 were many of those God had warned about centuries before (Deut. 7:1), as well as the surrounding nations of Ammon, Moab, and Egypt...Ezra knew that it was for just this sort of sin that his nation had gone into captivity (cf. v. 7). Perhaps he was afraid they would go into captivity again (cf. v. 8).
Reflection: Do we learn from history? They just settled down from their previous judgement. They were on the edge to be punished again. How about me? Have I ever learned?
v.2b the holy race has become intermingled with the local residents
(BKC) Intermarrying with people who did not worship Yahweh was symptomatic of the way the people forsook other aspects of God’s Law. If they would break this aspect of the Law in the most intimate of human relationships then they would probably also break the Law in other less intimate human relationships.
2. Who would have respond to that kind of sins?
v.4a Everyone who held the words of the God of Israel in awe gathered around me
He was devastated x2 v.3,4.
(EBC) Those with a proper perception of God’s holiness will tremble at his word (see Heb 12:18–29, esp. v.21).
Reflection: People do not just sin in one single area. It only shows their causal manner to God's Laws. How about me? What is my attitude towards God? Will I be one of those who gathered around Ezra?
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