The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 140

Vore. 1-4.-Spiritual separatinn. I. THAT SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD IB A uw OD' THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. The Israelites must separate themselves from the people of the land (ver, 1). Thie separation is not (1) local. The Israelites and Canaanites must live in the same world, in the same town, and often in the same house. . Thie separation is not (2) political. Both the Israelites and the Canaanite11 must act their part as citizens of the same state. This separation is not (3) com- mercial. The Israelites have to do business with the Canaanites, This separation is (4) spiritual. The good man is separate from the world by the moral dis- positions and aims which are cherished by him; so that while he is in the same place, state, and business, he is of a different mind, temper, and character. Why must the good man thus separate himself from the world? True, he has sympathy with his comrades; he shares their manhood; he does not leave it in pride, or in suUenness; but-1. That he may maintain the dignity of the Christian life. The Israelites were the followers of Jehovah, and could not place themselves on the same platform with idolaters. There is a moral dignity about religion which must not be sacrificed by undue familiarity with the common things of the world. There is a dignity in the Divine name, in the cross of Christ, in spiritual devotion, in the truth of the gospel, in the hopes of the believer, which the good man must maintain, which is likely to be forfeited in worldly companionships. The sacred things of God must not be profaned by worldly associations. The rose must not cast in its lot with the nettle. 2. That he may exemplify the purity of the Christian life. The land of the people was unclean (ver. 11). Israel must-not be contaminated by its abomin- ations. The worldly life is sinful. The Christian life must be holy. Its command- ments are holy. Its Supreme Example is sinless. Its duty is to manifest the beauty of holiness, and to inculcate the pursuit of piety. In order to this it must be separate from sinners. 3. That he may inew·e the safety of the Christian life. The Israelites were exposed to great danger by contact with the heathen, and separation was their only safeguard. Piety has no right to endanger itself by unholy associations ; separ- ation is safety. 4. That he may conserve the purposes of the Christian life. Israel had a mission to the other nations, and only by separation could _it be accomplished separation is necessary to the moral design of the Church. II. THAT THE LAW OF SPIRITUAL SEPARATION IS OFTEN VIOLATED BY CHRISTIAN MEN. It is difficult to separate from those amongst whom we live. It is not easy to avoid unholy contact with the people of the land who are so near to us. There are many temptations which attract the spiritual to the carnal. The people of the land have daughters to give in marriage, they have oftentimes prosperity and wealth ; and these things are calculated to tempt the godly into unholy alliance (ver. 11). Great will be the condemnation of those wl).o yield to this solicitation. III. THAT Tim LAW OF SPIRITUAL SEPARATION IS CONDUCIVE TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE CHURCH. "That ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inberitanco to your children for ever" (ver. 12).-E. Vers. 1-4.-Ezra's grief. "Now when these things were done," viz., when the free-will offerings were deposited in the temple, when the sacrifices had been offered, when the king's commissions had been delivered to his lieutenants and the governors of the provinces-when all things promised well, a new cause of trouble arises. "The princes came," &c. (vers. 1, 2). Here we have- I. THE CAUSE OF EzRA's GRIEF. 1. The law of God was violated. (1) The holy people had made marriages witl1 strangers. God had separated the people ot Israel to himself (Deut. xiv. 1, 2). For them to form such affinities was against the law (Deut. vii. 3). The marriage union of children of God with children of Satan is monstrous. It is nn outrage against the spirit of the gospel (2 Cor. vi. 14). (2) They had in consequence been drawn into their abominations. This is just what might have been expected. Thfo issue is constantly foreshown (Exod .. xxxiv. 15-17). The effect of these unequal yokinga upon Christians is most melancholy. fi~ L  146 THE BOOK OF EZRA. [CH. IX. 1-15.