Ezra 10:1-17

An Old Time Revival

An Old Time Revival

An Old Time Revival

We need a REVIVAL!

An Old Time Revival

Tonight, we want to look at “An Old Time Revival.”

An Old Time Revival

Tonight, we want to look at “An Old Time Revival.”◦ Ezra 10:1-17.

An Old Time Revival

Tonight, we want to look at “An Old Time Revival.”◦ Ezra 10:1-17.◦ The Israelites desperately needed revival, for they had

just returned from Jerusalem after their idolatry.

An Old Time Revival

Tonight, we want to look at “An Old Time Revival.”◦ Ezra 10:1-17.◦ The Israelites desperately needed revival, for they had

just returned from Jerusalem after their idolatry. In this passage, we see what‟s involved in “An Old Time

Revival.”

An Old Time Revival

Tonight, we want to look at “An Old Time Revival.”◦ Ezra 10:1-17.◦ The Israelites desperately needed revival, for they had

just returned from Jerusalem after their idolatry. In this passage, we see what‟s involved in “An Old Time

Revival.” CONFESSION CONSPIRACY CARRYING

An Old Time Revival

vv 1-2

An Old Time Revival

“While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: „We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this‟” (vv 1-2, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

Ezra was praying, confessing, & weeping.

An Old Time Revival

Ezra was praying, confessing, & weeping.◦ “Casting himself down” refers to a repeated action.

An Old Time Revival

Ezra was praying, confessing, & weeping.◦ “Casting himself down” refers to a repeated action.◦ A large group of people gather around Ezra & begin

weeping.

An Old Time Revival

An Old Time Revival

They had married foreign wives, contrary to God‟s command.

An Old Time Revival

God had commanded the Israelites not to marry foreign wives.

An Old Time Revival

God had commanded the Israelites not to marry foreign wives.◦ “You shall not intermarry with them, giving your

daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly” (Deut 7:3-4, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

God had commanded the Israelites not to marry foreign wives.◦ Deut 7:3-4.◦ Israelite history is full of heartache because the Israelites

disregarded this command.

An Old Time Revival

God had commanded the Israelites not to marry foreign wives.◦ Deut 7:3-4.◦ Israelite history is full of heartache because the Israelites

disregarded this command. Samson “loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name

was Delilah” (Jud 16:4, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

God had commanded the Israelites not to marry foreign wives.◦ Deut 7:3-4.◦ Israelite history is full of heartache because the Israelites

disregarded this command. Samson “loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name

was Delilah” (Jud 16:4, ESV). 1 Ki 11:1-6.

An Old Time Revival

But, the Israelites realize their error & they confess it.

An Old Time Revival

But, the Israelites realize their error & they confess it.◦ If we want God to bless us, we must confess our sins.

An Old Time Revival

But, the Israelites realize their error & they confess it.◦ If we want God to bless us, we must confess our sins. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but

he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Prov 28:13, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

But, the Israelites realize their error & they confess it.◦ If we want God to bless us, we must confess our sins. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but

he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Prov 28:13, ESV).

“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (Js 5:16, ESV).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

But, the Israelites realize their error & they confess it.◦ If we want God to bless us, we must confess our sins.◦ What sins do we need to confess before God?

An Old Time Revival

vv 3-15

An Old Time Revival

“„Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.‟ Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.

An Old Time Revival

“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,neithereating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. 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.

An Old Time Revival

“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. And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, „You have broken faith and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. Now then make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.‟ Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, „It is so; we must do as you have said. But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. Let our officials stand for the whole assembly. Let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every city, until the fierce wrath of our God over this matter is turned away from us.‟ Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them” (vv 3-15, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

Shecaniah wanted the Israelites to make a covenant with God.

An Old Time Revival

Shecaniah wanted the Israelites to make a covenant with God.

He determined what was needed for true repentance—the sending away of their foreign wives.

An Old Time Revival

Repentance involves ridding ourselves of sin.

An Old Time Revival

Repentance involves ridding ourselves of sin.◦ “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees

coming to his baptism, he said to them, „You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance‟” (Mt 3:7-8, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

Repentance involves ridding ourselves of sin.◦ “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees

coming to his baptism, he said to them, „You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance‟” (Mt 3:7-8, ESV).

◦ “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Eph 4:28, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

Shecaniah wanted their actions to conform to the Law of the LORD.

An Old Time Revival

Shecaniah wanted their actions to conform to the Law of the LORD.◦ We must make sure that our actions conform to the Law

of the LORD.

An Old Time Revival

Shecaniah wanted their actions to conform to the Law of the LORD.◦ We must make sure that our actions conform to the Law

of the LORD. “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the

law of the LORD!” (Ps 119:1, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

Shecaniah wanted their actions to conform to the Law of the LORD.◦ We must make sure that our actions conform to the Law

of the LORD. “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the

law of the LORD!” (Ps 119:1, ESV). “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it

according to your word” (Ps 119:9, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

An Old Time Revival

Israel took an oath to follow God‟s Law.

An Old Time Revival

Israel took an oath to follow God‟s Law. Ezra arose & encourages the people to separate

themselves from their foreign wives.

An Old Time Revival

Israel took an oath to follow God‟s Law. Ezra arose & encourages the people to separate

themselves from their foreign wives.

An Old Time Revival

The people say: “It is so; we must do as you have said” (v 12, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

The people say: “It is so; we must do as you have said” (v 12, ESV).◦ The people could have made excuses for their sin.

An Old Time Revival

The people say: “It is so; we must do as you have said” (v 12, ESV).◦ The people could have made excuses for their sin.◦ But, the people admitted their sin & agreed to rid

themselves of it.

An Old Time Revival

The people say: “It is so; we must do as you have said” (v 12, ESV).◦ The people could have made excuses for their sin.◦ But, the people admitted their sin & agreed to rid

themselves of it.

But, it was the rainy season & the people didn‟t want to stand outside.

An Old Time Revival

Four people opposed this plan.

An Old Time Revival

Four people opposed this plan.◦ Some people never like change (even if it‟s positive).

An Old Time Revival

Four people opposed this plan.◦ Some people never like change (even if it‟s positive).◦ May we never be like that!

An Old Time Revival

The Israelites conspired that they would make necessary changes.

An Old Time Revival

The Israelites conspired that they would make necessary changes.◦ Often people want to change, but they don‟t have a plan

for doing so.

An Old Time Revival

The Israelites conspired that they would make necessary changes.◦ Often people want to change, but they don‟t have a plan

for doing so.◦ We need a plan to rid ourselves of sin!

An Old Time Revival

vv 16-17

An Old Time Revival

“Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of fathers‟ houses, according to their fathers‟ houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter; and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women” (vv 16-17, ESV).

An Old Time Revival

The exiles did as was proposed.

An Old Time Revival

The exiles did as was proposed. They weren‟t just individuals who decided to

change, but they actually changed.

An Old Time Revival

The exiles did as was proposed. They weren‟t just individuals who decided to

change, but they actually changed.◦ After the Book of the Law was found in Josiah's reign, the

king went throughout Judah restoring true worship (2 Ki. 23).

An Old Time Revival

The exiles did as was proposed. They weren‟t just individuals who decided to

change, but they actually changed.◦ After the Book of the Law was found in Josiah's reign, the

king went throughout Judah restoring true worship (2 Ki. 23). He removed all the pagan idols from the Temple, he

removed the pagan priests, & he removed the tents of the pagan male prostitutes.

An Old Time Revival

The exiles did as was proposed. They weren‟t just individuals who decided to

change, but they actually changed.◦ After the Book of the Law was found in Josiah's reign, the

king went throughout Judah restoring true worship (2 Ki. 23). He removed all the pagan idols from the Temple, he

removed the pagan priests, & he removed the tents of the pagan male prostitutes.

Josiah made a decision to do right & he carried out that decision.

An Old Time Revival

The exiles did as was proposed. They weren‟t just individuals who decided to

change, but they actually changed.◦ After the Book of the Law was found in Josiah's reign, the

king went throughout Judah restoring true worship (2 Ki. 23).

◦ Remember the Prodigal Son?

An Old Time Revival