“Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God 6 and prayed: “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. 7 From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today. 8 “But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. 9 Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.
10 “But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commands 11 you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: ‘The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. 12 Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’” Ezra 9:5-12
Father God,
We may think that our culture has changed and we do not have to know and marry within certain groups of people with the same interrelated descendants. And was this not just rules for the Jews? Ezra came to oversee the community, Nehemiah would return and oversee the building of the walls. So why was Ezra so upset? Because they had married people of pagan worship practices and had been led astray to put their trust elsewhere. They di not even recognise the danger of putting someone or something else on a level with You our God of Gods and Lord of Lords. The one who could spare them from plagues, lead them to freedom protect them from their enemies and provide for them even in exile.
But Paul speaks about being unequally yoked with unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). We still need to keep ourselves from idol worship and being watered down in our faith. Some think Paul is speaking about marriage. It is sad when a believer drifts away due to an unbelieving partner or friend. But we are not here to judge others. It is ourselves we must look first. Am I standing on solid ground with my unbelieving friends? Is there anyone who might surreptitiously dissuade me from worship or prayer? Are You first and the foundation and continuation of my faith? Then perhaps we can speak to those drifting away in love and with kindness.
IN Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 5th October 2025
If we are in the cross we can draw others to it . . . some of the old hymns just say it like it is.
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me.
Chorus
Near the cross! O lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me.
Chorus
Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
Chorus
Lyrics: Fanny Crosby