No. 31 of Returning Home (Renewed)
After Ezra’s confrontation with his brethren, exacting their oath that they will put away their idolatrous wives, we are given a glimpse of what’s weighing on his heart.
Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. – Ezra 10:6ESV
He is grieved by the faithlessness of his brothers. The decision to break God’s law to enter unlawful unions depicts national infidelity. They refused the governance of their Good Ruler. These men, who had returned home for the purpose of reestablishing their law and nation, had switched sides. They had become traitors to the very system to which some of them, as priests, were government officials. Recommitting to God’s law was paramount for the good of the people. Once Ezra enforced the dissolution of these unlawful unions, only then could he reinstate God’s governmental system.
And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, and that if anyone did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles. – Ezra 10:7-8ESV
The nation of Israel was not just a family of God, it was a corporate association; and so, Ezra deals with the problem on the corporate level. He calls them to assemble in order to expedite their reconciliation with God as their Kingly ruler.
Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. -Ezra 10:9ESV
Here is a pitiful picture Ezra paints for us as the men assemble before God’s house. They are all trembling. The ones whose hearts had not trembled previously are now physically trembling before God. What a sad state they are in as they wait for the verdict, as they wait to know what must be done to atone for their infidelity to their King as a nation because of the infidelity of individual men among their number.
Perhaps this scene brings to mind the image the apostle Paul presents to us about God’s judgment seat.
For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” -Romans 14:10-11ESV
The Church is not a physical governmental system today; and yet, the warning about traitorous men and women is still found in the Covenant of Christ. They are those who have not kept their faith (2 Peter 2:20), wrecked their faith (1 Timothy 1:19), and have not valued the gift of the Faith (Hebrews 6:4-6). Oh, the many nights we spend grieving that they have not chosen to follow the path they once promised to follow! Their lawless choices create our suffering, and yet, would we not gladly welcome them back? We mourn the faithlessness of these brothers and sisters, knowing that there will be a final summons before God.