Daily Manna 8 September
KEY VERSE: “Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.” – (Ezra 10:6)
TEXT: Ezra 10:6-8
6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib; and when he came there, he ate no bread and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those from the captivity.
7 And they issued a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the descendants of the captivity, that they must gather at Jerusalem, 8 and that whoever would not come within three days, according to the instructions of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the assembly of those from the captivity.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
A preacher once said, “I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope lies in another quarter. I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of you and say you are mine, and you shall be mine, I claim you for myself. My hope arises from the freeness of grace and not from the freedom of will”.
The children of Judah, while in exile and captivity, had mixed with the people of the land. They had intermarried and copied their customs, contrary to God’s commandment. Many of them, including the nobles returned to Jerusalem with strange wives and children. Ezra was greatly troubled and mourned for their transgression, seeking to influence the people back to their original convictions.
Our grieving, weeping and pleading for other people’s sin have the capacity to break down those who otherwise would have continued unashamedly in their sinfulness and backslidden state. When Ezra, a scribe, scholar and man in authority under the king, so deeply lamented over the national sinfulness and disobedience to God’s command, the people concluded that they had indeed committed grievous sins.
The state of sinners and backsliders can lead them to eternal damnation in hell fire and this demands immediate action. Like Ezra, standing believers must weep and cry to God for forgiveness and restoration of sinners and backsliders. We must make them bend their knees in confession of sins and wholeheartedly repent. There is grace for forgiveness and cleansing from the Lord through the shed blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God offered for our sins. The backsliders should examine themselves, turn again to the Lord, through fervent prayers and supplication for mercy.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Faithful intercessors can hold back God’s wrath.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 105-106
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Grieving For Sinners- by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 8 September 2021
