Prayer
Heavenly Father, cause us to be diligent in Your Word that we would know Your ways and walk in them following Your commandments, statutes, and ordinances. Grant that we would resist the devil, flee immorality, and mortify sin in our flesh. By Your grace grant that we would walk in all holiness before You. Amen.
Today’s Hymn
Daniel B. Towner
Words: Julia H. Johnston, in Hymns Tried and True (Chicago, Illinois: The Bible Institute Colportage Association, 1911), number 2. Music: Daniel B. Towner, 1910.
GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN
Click here for tune.
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Refrain
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
Refrain
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.
Refrain
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Refrain
Thought Provoker
Have you ever been in a situation where you knowingly sinned by promising to do something you know you should not have and then later realized that to follow through on the promise would be a sin? What should you do? To keep your promise would be sinful, but wouldn’t it also be sinful to break your promise? See in the example of Israel in Ezra 10 how there is no sin in repentance that bears fruit.
Dad’s Study
Immediately upon Ezra’s arrival in chapter 9 he is informed of the sin of the people regarding inter-marriage with the nations around them. This was a clearly established law in Israel dating back to when Abraham sought a wife for Isaac in Genesis 24:3 and was handed down by God as part of the Mosaic law in Deuteronomy 7:3. God commanded they be separate so that by inter-marriage the Israelites would not be led astray to follow after the false gods of the surrounding nations. This was a serious sin that seems to have been committed by many of the Israelites, including priests and Levites, who were in the first generation after the return. Verse 18 lists the sons of Jeshua as those who inter-married. Jeshua was one of those who returned to the land in the first return with Zerubbabel. Approximately 80 years later we see the first generation to be born in the land has returned to the sins of their fathers. It is even worse that it was the priests and Levites who were unequally yoked with idolaters becaus Ezra goes into mourning, confessing the sins of Israel before God. He sees the danger of God’s judgment coming on the nation again. While praying, a large assembly gathered to Ezra, those who also were grieved by this great sin. It was proposed that all those who repented of this sin should show forth fruits of that repentance by obedience. Thus it was determined that each mixed marriage would be examined and the Israelite men would put away, or divorce, their wives. Each marriage was investigated by the heads of fathers’ households. Interestingly, this chapter does not tell us the final disposition of these marriages. It is said that it was to be done according to the law (verse 3), they were called to separate themselves from “foreign” wives (verse 11) and there is a list of those who had married foreign wives. Some commentators presume that the purpose of the investigation was to determine if the wife had become a believer in the God of Israel. If so, she was no longer considered a “foreign” wife.
Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
Truth in Practice
This passage should not be considered normative regarding divorce. This was a proper application of the Mosaic law to Israelites. Matthew Henry said this, As to being unequally yoked with unbelievers, such marriages, it is certain, are sinful, and ought not to be made; but now they are not null, as they were before the gospel did away the separation between Jews and Gentiles. There is now no distinction amongst Jew and Gentile in such ways. Scripture is clear, we are to be equally yoked with believers in marriage (2 Cor. 6:14), and to intentionally do otherwise is a sin, however, God’s view of divorce has not changed any, He still hates it (Malachi 2:16). Scripture now commands the believer who finds themselves unequally yoked, either by virtue of their own sinful disobedience, or by virtue of having come to Christ after marriage; to stay married so as to be a sanctifying influence for their unbelieving mate and children (1 Cor. 7:14).
Catechism
Question 54
Q. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is, a promise of long life and prosperity — as far as it shall serve for God’s glory, and their own good — to all such as keep this commandment (Eph. 6:2,3).
