Reading
SAA Notes
The Bible tells us what people did do, as well as what they should do. Ezra and the majority of people went further than the Mosaic Law. The Apostle Paul tells believers not to divorce their unbelieving spouses because they are not believers. 1 Corinthians 7:14
SJA Notes
* Righteous God, let us not hate Your discipline or despise Your reproof.
“All these had married foreign women, and some of the women had even borne children.”
God’s word doesn’t just tell us how we ought to act, it shows us how we actually are, warts and all.
We have read in God’s word that non-Israelite wives do not stop God’s grace – After all we have Tamar, Rahab and Ruth, all grafted into the true vine.
They gave up their idolatry and served the living God.
In Ezekiel 16 and 23 we read of Israel the faithless bride, who went after other gods, committing adultery with God her husband.
While God sent His bride into exile for a time, He did not put her away forever. Instead we read in Ezekiel,
“For thus says the Lord GOD: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant.”
Through Jesus we are grafted into the true vine, one that is blessing to all nations (the promise to Abraham).
God did not put away His faithless bride. If this were so what hope would we have!
Instead, He sent Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for all the sins of His people.
Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
* Great God Above,
This is a hard reading today.
Please open our ears to hear Your word, our eyes to see what You want for us, the courage and energy to do what You tell us.
Please show us Jesus today.
Amen.