daily reading 40.2 (Ezra 9:1–4)

5-days-a-week through Daniel and other late OT books in 2023


Our opening prayer for this week:

By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless,
My soul, believe and doubt it not.
Why waver at this word of promise?
Has Scripture ever falsehood taught?
So then this word must true remain:
By grace you too shall heaven obtain.

By grace God’s Son, our only Savior, 
Came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of your own merit
That Jesus died your soul to win?
No it was grace, and grace alone,
That brought him from his heavenly throne.

By grace! Oh, mark this word of promise
When you are by your sins oppressed,
When Satan plagues your troubled conscience,
And when your heart is seeking rest.
What reason cannot comprehend
God by his grace to you did send.
 
By grace to timid hearts that tremble,
In tribulation’s furnace tried—
By grace, despite all fear and trouble,
The Father’s heart is open wide.
Where could I help and strength secure
If grace were not my anchor sure?

By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying;
In Jesus’ promise I rejoice.
For though I know my heart’s condition,
I also know my Savior’s voice.
My heart is glad; all grief has flown
Since I am saved by grace alone. Amen.
 

Ezra 9:1–4

  • After these things had been done, the leaders approached me and said: "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the surrounding peoples whose detestable practices are like those of the Canaanites, Hethites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
  • 2 "Indeed, the Israelite men have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has become mixed with the surrounding peoples. The leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!"
  • 3 When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.
  • 4 Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering.
Helpful notes on Ezra 9:1–4 

 



For yourself pray:

  • That God gives you the Spirit of his Son to know when to separate lovingly from others and when not to, for love's sake

For others pray:

  • That God give help to someone you know with asthma

A psalm to listen to and ponder, as time allows:

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