And now, O our God, what shall we say after this ?.... What apology or excuse can be made for such ingratitude? what can be said in favour of such a people? what kindness can be expected to be shown to a people who had behaved in so base a manner? for we have forsaken thy commandments : particularly those which related to marriages with people of other nations. read more
What shall we say after this ? - Even in the midst of these beginnings of respite and mercy we have begun to provoke thee anew! read more
§ 2. REFORMATION OF RELIGION ACCOMPLISHED BY EZRA AT JERUSALEM . 1. The complaint made by the princes to Ezra concerning the mixed marriages ( Ezra 9:1 , Ezra 9:2 ); 2. Ezra's astonishment and horror ( Ezra 9:3 , Ezra 9:4 ); 3. His confession and prayer to God ( Ezra 9:5-15 ); 4. Repentance of the people, and covenant sworn to, on the recommendation of Shechaniah ( Ezra 10:1-5 ); 5. Ezra's fast ( Ezra 10:6 ); 6. Proclamation summoning... read more
Sensibility. Ezra was a man not only of vigorous mind and strong will, with whom things soon took shape and form, but also of keen sensibility, into whose heart things cut deeply, and whose soul was stirred with strong emotion. Therefore he knew not only great joys, but great sorrows also. "Dearly bought the hidden treasure Finer feelings can bestow; Chords that vibrate deepest pleasure Thrill the deepest notes of woe." When he learnt how the children of Israel had gone astray in... read more
EZRA 'S CONFESSION AND PRAYER TO GOD ( Ezra 9:5-15 ). The most remarkable feature of Ezra's confession is the thoroughness with which he identifies himself with his erring countrymen, blushes for their transgressions, and is ashamed for their misconduct. All their sins he appears to consider as his sins, all their disobedience as his disobedience, all their perils as his perils. Another striking feature is his sense of the exceeding sinfulness of the particular sin of the time... read more
A flood of tears. As we noticed before, and as is here noticed again, the approach of the evening sacrifice seems to have been the first thing which opened Ezra's lips. Speaking to him at last as he sat like a rock (comp. Psalms 105:41 ), it was answered immediately by a mingled outburst of confession and tears. Again by outward gesture expressing his sorrow, but not, as before, his indignation, he added now, by falling on his knees and spreading out his hands, the outward tokens of... read more
A good man's sight of sin. I. That the sight of sin AWAKENS WITHIN THE GOOD MAN A SPIRIT OF EARNEST PRAYER . "I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God" ( Ezra 9:5 ). 1. The humility of the prayer. Ezra fell upon his knees in deepest self-abasement; he did not stand erect like the Pharisee in the temple, but smote upon his breast like the publican ( Luke 18:13 ). Surely the sin of God's chosen people could not but inspire humility... read more
Ezra's prayer. While the smoke of the altar rises to heaven from the evening sacrifice, lo! there is Ezra before the temple of the Lord with rent garments and disordered hair, bowed upon his knees, and with lifted hands, pouring out confession of sin in tones of plaintive grief and shame and terror. "O my God,! am ashamed," etc. In this prayer we mark— I. THE CRIME CONFESSED (verses 11, 12). 1. Here were open violations of the law of God. 2. The reasons given for this... read more
Ezra 9:10. And now, what shall we say after this? What apology can we make for ourselves, after thou hast conferred such great and high favours upon us, and we have so grossly abused them? read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezra 9:5-15
What the meditations of Ezra's heart were, while for some hours he sat down astonished, we may guess by the words of his mouth when at length he spoke with his tongue; and a most pathetic address he here makes to Heaven upon this occasion. Observe, I. The time when he made this address?at the evening sacrifice, Ezra 9:5. Then (it is likely) devout people used to come into the courts of the temple, to grace the solemnity of the sacrifice and to offer up their own prayers to God in concurrence... read more