Song # 1999 from Our Gospel In Song Collection by Col Johnston. In the Book of Ezra we read in chapter 10 that the people confess to the Lord that they are sinners because they married foreign women.
A proclamation was issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem (Ezra 10:7). Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles (Ezra 10:8). Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. All the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain (Ezra 10:9). Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them “You have been unfaithful, you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt” (Ezra 10:10). “Now make confession to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives” (Ezra 10:11). The whole assembly responded with a loud voice. “You are right! We must do as you say” (Ezra 10:12). “But there are many people here and it is the rainy season, so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing” (Ezra 10:13). “Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us” (Ezra 10:14).
Thought for today: now is the time to invest in heaven.
Thought for the future: don’t be a part-time Christian for there is no part-time heaven. Where will you spend your eternity?