daily reading 41.1 (Ezra 10:1–6)

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


Our opening prayer for this week:

O God, my faithful God, O fountain ever flowing,
Who good and perfect gifts In mercy are bestowing,
Give me a healthy frame, And may I have within,
A conscience free from blame, A soul unhurt by sin.

Grant me the strength to do, With ready heart and willing
Whatever you command, My calling here fulfilling,
That I do what I should While trusting you to bless
The outcome for my good For you must give success.

Keep me from saying things That later need recalling;
Grant that no idle words May from my lips be falling,
But then, when in my place, I must and ought to speak,
My words grant power and grace Lest I offend the weak.

Lord, let me win my foes With kindly words and actions,
And let me find good friends For counsel and correction.
Help me, as you have taught, To love both great and small
And by your Spirit’s might To live in peace with all.

Let me depart this life Confiding in my Savior;
My soul, give rest from strife That it may live forever;
And let my body have A place near those I love
Within a Christian grave, While I’m with you above.

And on that solemn day When all the dead are waking,
Stretch o’er my grave your hand, Yourself my slumbers breaking.
Then let me hear your voice, Transform this earthly frame,
Forever to rejoice With all who love your name. Amen.

 

Ezra 10:1–6

  • While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly.
  • 2 Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, responded to Ezra: "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples, but there is still hope for Israel in spite of this.
  • 3 "Let us therefore make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the law.
  • 4 "Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we support you. Be strong and take action!"
  • 5 Then Ezra got up and made the leading priests, Levites, and all Israel take an oath to do what had been said; so they took the oath. 
  • 6 Ezra then went from the house of God and walked to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night. He did not eat food or drink water, because he was mourning over the unfaithfulness of the exiles,
Helpful notes on Ezra 10:1–6 



For yourself pray:

  • That God lets you learn how to lament in Christ

For others pray:

  • That God unites followers and leaders in your congregation

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

 


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