Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 9:1-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 9:1-3
"Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied."

Marrying outside of the faith was against God's law for the children of Israel. This was partly to preserve their faith and not to be lost to false gods other nations worshipped. Ezra is overwhelmed how prevalent this had become and and grieves. It was even among their princes and rulers. Ezra weeps and so do the people.

"Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore."
(Ezra 10:1)

They then covenant with God to put away their wives and children born of them. I can see why they would be so broken hearted. Seems in some ways so extreme to break up families. Yet, this was the consequences of their actions. As a people coming back from exile they wanted to be right with the Lord. Now they had to do what it took to repent and make restitution. As I was pondering over this situation in many ways it is exactly what we would face in the next life if we married outside of our faith, and not entered into an eternal covenant of marriage. Husband and wives and children would not have a sealing link to each other. There would also be much heartache over the choices made in this life.

Day 3881