“ In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. 25 So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. ” Nehemiah 13:23-25
“The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass.” 3 So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished. ” Ezra 9:1-3 NKJV
Lord God,
I sometimes read the history of Israel and, well I do, question things. And then sometimes almost answer my own questions as I read on. Why did they have to seperate from wives and children – because they did wrong, yes, but did the children have to suffer the consequences? Their covenant with You had not gone away but they had stepped away, married into paganism and ignored Your Law.
Reading the Bible in historical order shows there are many things I have not noticed before. Nehemiah reacts to the intermarriages by pulling their hair our and making them make promises not to marry their children to non Jews. Ezra on the other hand was so appalled he tore at his own beard and was astonished.
Ezra had instigated re reading the Law and putting into practice in their lives.He was shocked they had broken such an all encompassing law perhaps as a priest felt partly responsible. Nehemiah on the other hand seems very angry with them. Surely amidst so many enemy nations they realised the political danger of allow outsiders in to take over. Religion and politics. When You God were calling Your people to worship and respect Law. To have only Your religion and politics Lord.
But between the two of them, Ezra and Nehemiah called Your people to make reforms and deal with the consequences. For once they were moved by the reading of Your Word and seeing worship restored. May we not need to have our hair pulled. Holy Spirit keep us attuned to hear Your teaching, leading, warning and early correction.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 26th September 2026
He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom
By waters still over troubled sea
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me;
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
Chorus
O and when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the victory’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.
Lyrics: Joseph Gilmore (1834-1918)