In the book of Ezra, Ezra asked, “Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing”, and in chapter ten and verse three of Ezra, Ezra said, “let us make a covenant with our God”, where we read,
Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
The verse reads, “Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, ...” Ezra began with the words, “now therefore” or “at this time wherefore, then and on this account” “let us make a covenant” or “allow and permit us to, Shechaniah and one of the sons of Elam and the people of Israel, cut an alliance, pledge, league and treaty” “with our God” which means “alongside and accompanying our, Shechaniah, one of the sons of Elam and the people of Israel's, Supreme Deity” “to put away all the wives” or “to depart from and proceed away from each, every, the whole and everyone of the female spouses”, “and such as are born of them” which means “and the ones who are begotten, engendered and birthed by them, the wives”. Shechaniah and one of the sons of Elam called upon himself and the people of Israel to cut an alliance and pledge with their Supreme Deity to depart from every one of their female spouses and their children or offspring.
The verse goes on to say, “according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God;” Ezra continued with the words, “according to the counsel” which means “in keeping with the advice and purpose” “of my lord” or “belonging to my, Shechaniah and one of the sons of Elam's, firm, strong and sovereign”, “and of those that tremble” which means “and pertaining to the people who are fearful and afraid” “at the commandment” or “at the law, ordinance, precept and code of wisdom” “of our God” which means “belonging to our, Shechaniah, one of the sons of Elam and the people of Israel's, Supreme Deity”. Ezra shared how Shechaniah and one of the sons of Elam instructed the people of Israel to cut an alliance with Jehovah God in keeping with the advice of his sovereign one and accompanying those who were fearful at the law and ordinance belonging to Him.
Finally the verse says, “and let it be done according to the law.” Ezra concluded this verse with the words, “and let it be done” or “and allow and permit it, the cutting of the covenant, to be performed” “according to the law” which means “in keeping with the direction, instruction and prophetic teaching of Jehovah God”. Ezra ended this verse by Shechaniah and one of the sons of Elam directing the people of Israel to allow the keeping of the pledge and treaty with Jehovah God.
When we meditate upon Ezra's words in this verse, we learn how Shechaniah and one of the sons of Elam called upon the people of Israel to cut an alliance with Jehovah God that would involve them departing from their female spouses and the children that were birthed to them. They were to follow the advice and purpose belonging to Shechaniah and one of the sons of Elam's sovereign one along with the people who were fearful at the ordinance and precept belonging to Jehovah God, and they were to allow this to be performed in keeping with the precepts He gave. God knew what was best for the people of Israel, and when they obeyed Him, their lives would be better. He does the same for us today. He provided His Son Jesus as a living sacrifice to die upon the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a passion to keep His words and “covenant” all the days of our lives.
Next time Ezra says, “Arise; for this matter belongs to you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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