The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 138

Ezra himself. All silent, like Job's friends, when first they came to him and beheld his grief (Job ii. 13). There are occasions when silence says most. It does so when it proclaims a sorrow to be too overwhelming to allow of speech. In such silence that afternoon passed, till the hour for the evening sacrifice had arrived and the usual preparations were being made for its solemn observance. But not till that sacrifice spoke to them, as it were, like a voice frnm heaven was any other voice heard. See, in conclusion, from this passage-1. How wide the grasp of God's law. Even as given in a written form, and with a peculiar minuteness of specification in the Pentateuch, we see that it was rather a thing of principle than precise enac~ ment. Hence, in one way, its" exceeding breadth" (Ps. cxix. 96), and its applic,i- bility, as here, to analogous cases as well as direct ones. Hence, also, the way in which we read of it as being an object of "love" and "delight" (Ps. i. 2; cxix. 97, 113, 165, &c.). Those who love it ask not how little, but how much, it implie8. 2. How subtle the infection of sin. There is danger even in being witnesses of other men's sins (Ps. cxi.x. 37). There is almost certain contraction of guilt in any- thing like intimacy with evil men. Observe on this point the sixfold warning of Prov. iv. 14-16. No privileges, no office, no rank secure exemption from this peril. 3. How especially destructive the sins of God's people. What can be said or done for those who "hold the truth in unrighteousness" (see 1 Cor. v. 11)? If it were not, in fact, for the voice of the "sacrifice," the "propitiation" appointed even for such (1 John ii. 1, 2), what mllBt there be for them but despair? Vers. 5-15.-Ajlood of tears. As we nnticed 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. Ps. cv. 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 humiliation and prayer. And all that he says we find to be in exact accordance therewith. Unqualified shame; irresistible proof; inexcusable guilt. In the~e words we have a sufficient key to the nature and order of his thoughts. I. UNQUALIFIED SHAM:i,:. How difficult a thing it is to look on any one to whom we have done wrong. How especially difficult if that other is one to whom we are especially bound to show honour. This was the great trial of the prodigal's case. He had to say to his father, I have sinned before thee (see Isa. i. 2; Mai. i. 6). The same kind of feeling is traceable here. "0 my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God." As one of thy chosen people Israel, how can I look on thee as things are? My own countenance proclaims its shame, its burning shame, if I do. For, indeed, there is cause for shame in this case. There is nothing else, in fact, as things are. Like a man in the waters, when, being above his head, they destroy his life, BO are we overwhelmed now with our shame. Like those who have nothing to say to thee because the proof of their guilt is before thee, so are we silenced now by our shame. " Our guiltiness (margin) is grown up into the heavens " (comp. Ps. xc. 8). Altogether this opening confession is like that of Job (eh. xl. 4; xiii. 6). Behold, I am vile, and abhor myself: or, like that of the prodigal, before referred to, "I am not worthy to be called thy son." My very privileges having become my disgrace, what disgrace can be worse? II. IRRESISTIBLE PROOF. There being nothing perhaps less pleasing to God than to accuse ourselves before him without knowing why, such an extreme confession as the above ought not to be made without sufficient proof. This we have in abundance in the words which come next (vers. 7-12). The sin which Ezra had that day heard of, and which had led him to make this confession, was in every way a reproach. It was so because committed-1. In defiance of God's }udgments. For similar sin in previous days on the part of their fathers an almost unexampled visitation of judg- ment had come on them as a nation. Though a people sacred to Jehovah, he had handed them over in consequence, together with their" kings and priests," the mo~t sacred classes among them (2 Sam. i. 14, end 21; Ps. cvi. 16; Lam. iv. 20), into the hands of their foes. Loss of life1 or liberty, or substance-in the best case loss of  144 THE BOOK OF EZRA. [en. 1x. 1-15.