Sermon Tone Analysis
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Today we finish up a series of messages from the book of Ezra.
This book is about the return of a remnant of the nation of Israel out of exile and back to Jerusalem.
It wasn’t enough just to return, they were returning to rebuild the city.
The book of Ezra is focused on rebuilding the temple, while the next book, Nehemiah, focuses on the rebuilding of the rest of city including it’s walls and gates.
Finally, we have the last word of our title - Renew.
God was renewing their love and commitment to Him.
In our series of messages out of 1 John, we called this revival.
God was breathing new life into them by bringing back to scripture, by challenging them in the things they were doing.
I really enjoy watching car restoration shows.
There are some shows that while working within a budget, fix a few things, put some paint on it and call it good.
The ones that I really enjoy are the ones where they take every nut and bolt off the car and strip it down to bare metal, and start from there.
When they are finished, it is way better than it would have been off the factory floor.
It’s always interesting when the get the car back from the stripping process and it is completely exposed.
Many times there is some hidden damage from an accident or rust exposed that the paint can no longer hide.
On a few occasions, they find some really bad repair work…this one time, someone had shoved newspaper in between the metal panels and then covered the holes with bondo.
Imagine if someone tried to weld that panel not knowing…the entire car would have burst into flames.
I think we are all at some stage in our restoration process.
Some of us got to start are journey with Christ with a frame off restoration, but even with that done, daily life causes dings and scraps and there’s always maintenance.
Some of us came to know Christ and we only let him take care of the stuff on the surface.
Our paint job and rims look good, but we really hope no one every asks to pop the hood to see the engine…the heart.
I thought that was a fitting illustration for where we are going today.
The nation of Israel has returned, and the Lord is popping the hood and exposing some things that need to be addressed.
We ended last week with verse 1 of chapter 10, but I want to go back to chapter 9 verse 3 and take a quick look at Ezra’s reaction when the extent of the sin was exposed...
As a whole, I don’t we as Christians are grieved enough by our sins.
We are known for being appalled at the actions of the church or believers, as much as we are known for being appalled by the actions of the world.
I want to start today off reminding us that our sin keeps us from the best God has for us in this life.
We should react similar to Ezra when our sins are exposed - not appalled that we were caught, but appalled at our sinfulness.
Humbling approaching Jesus asking forgiveness and repenting of that sin.
If we don’t do that, it is like we just put a layer of paint over the rust and that rust just eats away at the foundation of the metal until the rust breaks through the paint again and this time the damage is worse.
Let’s begin reading in chapter 10 now...
I love this picture of the community coming together and mourning over this sin.
According to the records, Ezra was not even guilty of this particular sin, but still he wept because he knew that in order the entire nation to move forward in God’s blessing they had to get things right.
This renewal or revival process is certainly possible in just one person, but when many get together and weep together over their collective sin, the ripple effect impacts more than just those in the room.
Verse 2:
Many times we feel the disappointment in ourselves and if we are not careful to turn to the cross, we can stay there wallowing in our shame and regret…let me encourage you…there is still hope.
Shekaniah recognized God’s grace in bringing them there.
They were still breathing and that alone is hope that things can still be made right.
No one is ever too far gone to be without the hope of redemption.
He continues:
There is more going on than just marriages to foreign women.
The issue what that these women brought with them the practices of their cultures and worship of their gods and idols to their marriages and their families.
They were not willing to give that up and as such remained foreigners married to God’s people.
There is a process by which one can become a converted Jew that requires a complete separation from the birth country as well as a sincere commitment to follow God’s law and denounce any other previous religious ties.
The families being discussed here did not do that.
What a statement.
Shekaniah spoke for everyone in saying that they are willing to follow the lead of Ezra as he follows God’s Word.
Whatever needs to happen, they are in support.
They are encouraging Ezra to take a difficult stand and position in order that they would do what is right.
This was a serious matter and as such required serious consequences.
What was previously only a conversation with a few that were within physical proximity of Ezra, now becomes official to all those living in and around Jerusalem.
A proclamation was made.
We are going to get right with the Lord and this is how we are to do it.
The logistics of such a decision had to be considered and it was.
We get a glimpse into how they would execute this directive.
Verse 15 could mean that these guys either didn’t want to do it, or thought it should be done a different way.
Either way, we get the sense that there was discussion as they worked out this situation.
75 days to get through all of these cases of foreign marriage.
According to the list that follows, 110 men were found guilty.
Out of 30,000 returning exiles, 110 were found guilty and they made things right.
I have a couple of observations for us as we apply this text to us.
Corporate repentance of widespread sin is necessary.
True repentance requires not just confession, but making things right.
Sometimes that means making difficult decisions about how we address our ongoing sin.
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