Ezra 10:1-8 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

Things exceptional.

Human life is a river which flows evenly along from day to day; but it is a river like the Zambesi or the Congo (Livingstone), not without its rapids and its falls. Usually it flows silently, but sometimes it dashes along with impetuosity and uproar. So is it with our Christian life, with our religious course. There are things exceptional as well as things ordinary and regular, for which room must be made by ourselves and allowance by other people. There may be, as here at this juncture in the life of Ezra and the returned Jews, a time of exceptional—

I. EXHIBITION OF FEELING . "When Ezra had prayed … weeping and casting himself down," etc. (verse 1). Ezra "wept," i.e. made lamentation, audible and visible, in presence of all the people, and instead of standing or kneeling he cast himself down, and lay prostrate in the temple court, in order to impress on the multitude the strength of his feeling, and the critical character of the present emergency. And his example proved contagious, for all the people "wept very sore" (verse 1), and there was a great and general outpouring of emotion. Ordinarily our feelings are wisely kept under control. In this country we are, indeed, apt to press this a few points too far, and let self-control pass into a chill or cold reserve. But self-control gives force and dignity to character, and almost anything is better than habitually giving way to tempestuous feeling. Men that are constantly violent in their expression of feeling are disregarded if not despised; they lose all influence over others; they expend themselves in trifles, and have nothing in reserve for large occasions. But there are times when feeling may be freely poured forth; when, as in Ezra's case, there is

II. ATTESTATION . "Let us make a covenant with our God" (verse 3). "Then arose Ezra, and made … all Israel to swear that they should do according to his word" (verse 5). Usually, as our Lord tells us, it is far better to speak simply without strengthening our word by protestation or oath ( Matthew 5:33-37 ); but there are times when we feel called on to add to the word of promise which we make either to God or to man, something which shall confirm and secure it. We may

(a) to do some duty which is binding on us, but which we are strongly tempted to leave undone; or

(b) to render some service which we may lawfully leave alone, but which, in our better hours, we are inspired to undertake; or

(c) to leave untouched that which is either wrong in itself or dangerous or hurtful to ourselves or those we have in charge. Or we may

III. SEVERITY . "When he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water" (verse 6). "Whosoever would not come all his substance should be forfeited (verse 8). Ezra showed some little