Ezra 9:2
"The holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the land…"
Ezra 9:9
"For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us HIs steadfast love."
Ezra 9:14
"Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?"
There's such a Gospel-centric perspective happening here in this chapter of Ezra. I've been thinking about all day. Ezra saw the abomination of intermarriage happening in His culture. God, in justice, had every right to wipe out the entire nation, but didn't. God provided a remnant. A light in the midst of the darkness, that would one day bring forth His perfect Son.
But, even in this experienced mercy, Ezra cries out on behalf of His nation. Ezra repents for the sins of His people. And his repentance was not just a simple confession of sin, but an understanding that God could and in regards to His holiness, should wipe out the entire nation. Such fear of the Lord is seen as Ezra recognizes God's hatred toward sin, and His severe ability to execute justice.
How often do you think about fearing God? Do you ever think about how God views your sin, or the sins of our nation? God has every right to wipe our nation from the face of the earth, but in His steadfast, patient love, He has given us His only Son, even while we were slaves to sin.
Though we've experienced His grace, there is no excuse not to fear Him! If we could just gaze more tangibly at the Holiness of God, our actions, our conduct, our sin would be so much more horrifying to us, in light of His perfection.
And one day we will stand face to face with God who hates sin. Hands down, the most shocking moment of our existence will be when we see God for the first time. The Bible doesn't speak of many who saw God, but the few who did had a similar reaction of FEAR. Isaiah cursed himself, John collapsed like a corpse, and Job says He despised himself and fell to the dust in repentance.
Proverbs 19:23 says, "The fear of the Lord, leads to life." As we gaze at God in His holiness, and even as we experience His great mercy in Jesus, our fear of God should lead us to repentance, and spur us on to walk in righteousness.
We should praise God for His mercy.
We should fear God for the current state of our nation.
We should be a light in this present darkness.
We should live for the day we will stand face to face with God.