Ezra 10:1-5 - Homilies By J.a. Macdonald

The speech of Shechaniah.

Ezra was a very remarkable man. He represented the Persian court as governor in Judaea. But this was the least feature of his distinction. He was a man of the most exemplary piety, a very profound scholar, and withal the subject of Divine inspiration. When it was noised in the city that such a man had rent his clothes, there was naturally a vast concourse of people. In the presence of this assembly he offered his prayer to God, in the whole of which there is not an expression of hope. This stirred the soul of Shechaniah to deliver his speech, which was eminently wise and most appropriate to the occasion.

I. IT CONTAINED A FULL CONFESSION OF SIN (verse 2).

1. This had been done before by/Ezra.

2. Now it is done on behalf of the people. He does not appear himself to have been guilty; but his father and other members of his family were implicated (verse 26). He was in a position to know that the "sore weeping" of the people, sympathetic with the weeping of Ezra (verse 1), was the expression of a genuine contrition. Note—By weeping for the sins of others we may set them weeping for themselves.

II. IT PROPOSED A NATIONAL REPENTANCE AND REFORMATION (verse 3).

1. They were to pledge themselves to put away all the strange wives and their issue.

2. This was to be done in the most solemn manner.

III. IT SUGGESTED MEASURES FOR CARRYING OUT THE REFORMATION .

1. Ezra was himself to be the prime actor in this. "This matter belongeth unto thee."

2. He was to associate with him as his council " those that tremble at the commandment of God. "

3. The chiefs of the people pledged themselves to be with him .