Scriptural text: Ezra 10:1-12
Ezra’s Contrition (Ezra 10:1).
In the outward court before the temple, Ezra had confessed the sins of the people in prayer and supplication: rending his garments, and plucking off his hair, and was crying and praying in a vehement manner. His prayer included four elements: openness, confession, weeping, and prostrating himself on the ground. His public prayer drew the attention of a great crowd of men, women, and children.
Shechaniah’s Call for Action (Ezra 10:2-4).
Shechaniah recognized the severity of their sin, yet he also knew their present brokenness over their sin was an emblem of the work God’s Spirit among them. Thus it was reason for hope in Israel in spite of this. It is interesting that Ezra himself did not suggest the course of action for that Shechaniah did. Ezra knew what to do, but knew the suggestion had to come from the community itself instead of from himself, who was a newcomer to Jerusalem and Judea. Shechaniah advised the actions repentance, more than simply indulging the feelings of brokenness. Divorce was permitted in Israel (Deuteronomy 24:1); and broken marriages had been rife at this time. There had been a scandalous number of Jewish wives abandoned in favor of heathen women.
Ezra’s Response to Shechaniah’s Request (Ezra 10:5-6).
Ezra had a private council of the princes and elders in the Chamber of Jonathan. It was resolved to enter into a general covenant to put away their foreign wives and children; that a proclamation should be made for all who had returned from Babylon to repair within three days to Jerusalem, under pain of excommunication and confiscation of their property.
The People Gather in Jerusalem (Ezra 10:7-9).
Ezra acted to uphold God’s law, which forbade marriage to foreigners. As a devout Jew, Ezra was personally bound to uphold the Law, as he was further directed by King Artaxerxes to implement the Law of Moses, and to ensure that all of the people followed it.
The Call to Separate (Ezra 10:10-12).
This was a remarkable call Ezra made. Their unified response was another evidence of the moving of the Holy Spirit. The willingness of the people to forsake normal comforts by sitting in the rain under adverse conditions was evidence of the Holy Spirit moving among them.
Ezra commanded that the violators confess their sins and separate from their unbelieving wives. “Separate” denotes a kind of divorce based upon the Law.