daily reading 40.5 (Ezra 9:10–15)

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 9:10–15

  • "Now, our God, what can we say in light of this? For we have abandoned the commands 11 you gave through your servants the prophets, saying: 
  • 'The land you are entering to possess is an impure land. The surrounding peoples have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness by their impurity and detestable practices. 12 So do not give your daughters to their sons in marriage or take their daughters for your sons. Never pursue their welfare or prosperity, so that you will be strong, eat the good things of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.'
  • 13 "After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and terrible guilt—though you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have allowed us to survive—14 should we break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit these detestable practices? Wouldn't you become so angry with us that you would destroy us, leaving neither remnant nor survivor?
  • 15 "LORD God of Israel, you are righteous, for we survive as a remnant today. Here we are before you with our guilt, though no one can stand in your presence because of this."
Helpful notes on Ezra 9:10–15 

 



For yourself pray:

  • That God gives you a repentant heart before him

For others pray:

  • That God gives godly, faithful spouses to unmarried people in your congregation

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

 

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