“And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.” — Ezra 10:2

The people of Judah had trespassed against God regarding His commands for marriage, and in today’s text, they acknowledged their sin. Despite the challenges their wrongdoing had created, they purposed to rectify the matter. And as a result, our focus verse declares there was “hope in Israel concerning this thing.” 

A number of years ago, a woman in our congregation, faced a similar situation. Like the people of Judah, she was in a marriage that was not Biblical, and she felt convicted about that because she knew what God had commanded. She had been raised in a godly home, but in her teenage years, the worldly lifestyle looked glamorous and appealing, and she made up her mind that she wanted to wait a while before giving her life to the Lord. What an unwise decision that was! Those years filled with sinful choices brought consequences. 

She testified, “War was going on in the Middle East, and I knew the Bible said one of the signs of the end times would be ‘wars and rumors of wars.’ There was tremendous fear in my heart that the Lord would come, and I wouldn’t be ready to meet Him. One part of me wanted to surrender to God right then, but by that time I was married in adultery. My first husband was still living, and I knew I couldn’t be in a wrong marriage and be ready for Heaven.” 

She went on to relate that many times she told God that she did not know how she could get along without her husband. Each time the Lord would speak to her heart and assure her that He would take care of her if she would serve Him. One day, as she was driving alone in her car, the Lord spoke so clearly to her and let her know that He could come even while she was praying. She related, “I was so afraid! I knew it was God’s Voice and I felt like it was my last chance. While I was still driving, I determined to surrender my life to the Lord no matter what the consequences. Thoughts about what my husband might say or do paled in comparison to the thought of standing before God to give an account of my life. 

“My husband was still at work when I knelt beside my bed and poured out my heart to God, confessing my sins and asking His forgiveness. I told Him I didn’t care what happened to me if only He would save me. In a moment of time, He answered that prayer and forgave me. I knew I was saved! God’s peace filled my heart, and I felt such relief that the battle was won. Deep in my heart was such joy! 

“I really didn’t know what to do next, but I knew that God had changed my life and given me an assurance that He would help me explain to my husband what had happened. I remember marking some places in my Bible that explain what adultery is, and the Lord was there as I shared those Scriptures with my husband and told him that God had saved me.” 

In a wonderful and peaceful way, God worked out that situation and they ended their relationship without animus. And in the years since then, God has been with this woman. She has truly proved that “there is hope . . . concerning this thing” when one does what God commands. She testified, “God has been so good to me. As I grow older, I am reminded of God’s love when I think about how He has repaired my life and replaced sin’s damage with blessings and beauty. I can say with assurance that there is no problem too difficult for our awesome, loving Heavenly Father, and my desire is to continue to serve Him for the rest of my life.” 

Our world today is still plagued by the effects of sin. However, as this woman found, there is a remedy! God is faithful to forgive. When people come before God in sincere repentance, humbly acknowledging their sins, they experience God’s transforming power. He will change them completely and give them hope!

BACKGROUND

After Ezra’s heartbroken prayer in chapter 9 on behalf of the exiles who had disobeyed God’s commands by intermarrying with the people of the land, this chapter describes the people’s repentant confession and their renewed covenant to obey God’s Law. An assembly was called in Jerusalem, the guilty individuals agreed to make a complete break with the sin that was destroying them, and the plan was carried out. The conclusion of the Book of Ezra is the list of those who were guilty in this matter but repented and separated themselves from their heathen wives and the children born to those wives. 

Verse 1 reveals that the people were convicted and felt their need to confess and repent, perhaps as a result of observing Ezra’s anguish over the matter. They joined Ezra in weeping over the sin in their midst. A man named Shechaniah, the son of one of the leaders, seemingly grasped that their evident brokenness was indicative of the work of God’s Spirit among them. Thus, it was a reason for hope. In verses 2-4, he advised action: a renewal of Israel’s covenant with God, necessitating that the guilty ones separate themselves from their pagan wives and the offspring born to them. This decisive step would prove their repentance was sincere. 

In verses 5-8, Ezra called upon the people to swear an oath to “do according to this word.” Then, in his deep mourning, he observed a complete fast, abstaining from both food and water. A proclamation was circulated throughout Judah instructing all the exiles to gather within three days at Jerusalem. The penalty for failure to do so was severe. According to verse 8, “all his substance should be forfeited,” meaning that anyone who failed to come would lose the legal right to possess property in the land of Judah. In addition, that one would be “separated from the congregation”—he would not be allowed to worship in the Temple. 

The people obeyed and assembled within three days (verse 9). This gathering took place in the ninth month of the Jewish calendar, during the season of heavy rains. As they gathered outside of the Temple, they had no shelter from the elements. Verses 10-12 relate Ezra’s instructions, which repeated the counsel of Shechaniah: they were to confess to God their sin and separate from their foreign wives and the children born to them. The people agreed to do so. 

Verses 13-17 relate that because the problem was so widespread in Judah, the people requested that a framework be established for the undertaking to be accomplished. At appointed times, those who were guilty in this matter would come to Jerusalem for hearings before the officials, accompanied by local elders and judges who likely would stand as witnesses. According to verse 15, only four named individuals were needed to administer this decision. 

The plan was carried forward as decided, and the hearings took three months. The leaders then gave their report of the individuals who had followed through and separated from their foreign wives. That list of names is given in verses 18-44 and concludes both the chapter and the Book of Ezra.

AMPLIFIED OUTLINE

II. The reformation under Ezra
     B. The reform under Ezra
          2. The repentance of the remnant (10:1-15)
               a. The confession of the people (10:1-2)
               b. The covenant of the people (10:3-8)
               c. The separation from the foreign wives (10:9-15)
          3. The register of those who married foreign women (10:16-44)
               a. The research (10:16-17)
               b. The list (10:18-44)

A CLOSER LOOK

1. What was the people’s attitude when faced with the fact that they had sinned?
2. What might be some evidences we would expect to see when a person is truly repentant?
3. What should people do if they have sin in their lives?

CONCLUSION

The first step to a solution is recognizing the problem. When people recognize there is sin in their lives, they are in a position to do something about it! Just as Israel repented and turned away from their sin, so must every person today. In true repentance, God’s forgiveness and hope will be found.