The Pulpit Commentary — Ezra — Section 156

weeping-" of the people, S)'IDpathetic with the weeping of Ezrn (ver. 1), was the expression of a genuine contrition. Note-By weeping for the sins of others we may set them weeping for themselves. II. IT PROPOSED A NATIONAL REPENTANCE AND REFORMATION (ver. 3). 1. They were to pledge themselves to put away all the stra~e wive,s and tliei,r -issue. (1) This extreme measure was required by the law. For m ancient times it was the duty of the children of Israel to exterminate the idolatrous people of the land (Deut. vii. 1- 3). (2) The genius of the gospel is different (see 1 Cor. vii. 12, 13). Now if there be one belienng parent ~he offspring may receive baptism and Church recognition. 2. This was to be done 'l,n the most solemn manne,·. (1) "Let us make a covenant," literally, let us cut (1i~ carath) a covenant. The allusion is to the custom of dinding a victim, and laying the pieces over against each other, so that the people covenanting might pass between them (see Gen. xv. 10). (2) This ceremony on the part of the people expressed their willingness to be treated as the victim had been, viz., to be cut up by the sacrificing knife of Divine justice if they proved faithless to their pledges (see Jer. :x.xxiv. 18-20). (3) This ceremony points to the gospel of Christ, who is our covenant or purification-sacrifice, securing to us all blessings if we comply with the terms of mercy. It also admonishes us that if we do not comply, then the sword of flame will be turned upon us, and we shall be made ourselves the sacrifices for our sin. Ill. IT SUGGESTED MEASURES FOB CABRYmG OUT THE REFORMATION. 1. Ezra was himsdf to be the pri,me actor in thi,s. "This matter belongeth unto thee." (1) Be had the moral qualifications for the work. His very soul was in it. His influence with his people was unequalled. He was the most eminent servant of God. (2) He nad the political qualifications. Governor, &c. 2. He was to associate with him as his council "those that tre:mble at the commandment nf God." (1) These were th, godly persons whose sympathies led them first to gather round him (eh. ix. 4). (2) With such a council the reformation would be tho more likely to be carried out "according to the law." 3. The ch~fs of the people pledged themselve,s to be with him. (1) Surely then "there is hope iu Israel." "The valley of Achor," i. e. of trouble, has ever been "the door of hope" (Hosea ii. 15). God promises to return to those who return to him (1 Sam. vii. 3; Isa. lv. 7; Hosea vi. 1). (2) This speech of Shechaniah was surely God's answer to the prayer of Ezra. lie was to Ezra what the angel was to Daniel (comp. Dan. ix. 20). (3) Now is the moment for action, and Ezra is equal to the occasion. "Then arose Ezra," &c. (ver. 5). "There is a tide in the a1fairB of men," &c.-J. A. M. Vers. 1--8.-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 dashe11 along with impetuosity and uproar. So is it with our Christian life, with our religious course. There aro 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- !. EXHIBITION OF FEELmG. "When Ezra had prayed . . . weeping and casting himself down," &c. (ver. 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 multi- tude the strength of his feeling, and the critical character of the present emergency. And hie example proved contagioUl!, for all the people "wept very sore" (ver. 1), and there was a great and general outpouring of emotion. Ordinarily our feelings arc 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, aa in CH. X. 1-44.] THE BOOK OF EZRA. 163