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Ezra begins with a plan to end marriage to foreign women and put them away as wives. We see slight protest here but altogether this was agreed.

The Plan for Ending Mixed Marriages

¹While Ezra was bowing in prayer in front of the Temple, weeping and confessing these sins, a large group of Israelites — men, women, and children — gathered round him, weeping bitterly. ²Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the clan of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have broken faith with God by marrying foreign women, but even so there is still hope for Israel. ³Now we must make a solemn promise to our God that we will send these women and their children away. We will do what you and the others who honour God’s commands advise us to do. We will do what God’s Law demands. ⁴It is your responsibility to act. We are behind you, so go ahead and get it done.”

⁵So Ezra began by making the leaders of the priests, of the Levites, and of the rest of the people take an oath that they would do what Shecaniah had proposed. ⁶Then he went from in front of the Temple into the living quarters of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, and spent the night there grieving over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. He did not eat or drink anything.

⁷A message was sent throughout Jerusalem and Judah that all those who had returned from exile were to meet in Jerusalem ⁸by order of the leaders of the people. If anyone failed to come within three days, all his property would be confiscated, and he would lose his right to be a member of the community. ⁹Within the three days, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the men living in the territory of Judah and Benjamin came to Jerusalem and assembled in the temple square. It was raining hard, and because of the weather and the importance of the meeting everyone was trembling.

¹⁰Ezra the priest stood up and spoke to them. He said, “You have been faithless and have brought guilt on Israel by marrying foreign women. ¹¹Now then, confess your sins to the LORD, the God of your ancestors, and do what pleases him. Separate yourselves from the foreigners living in our land and get rid of your foreign wives.”

¹²The people shouted in answer, “We will do whatever you say.” ¹³But they added, “The crowd is too big, and it’s raining hard. We can’t stand here in the open like this. This isn’t something that can be done in one or two days, because so many of us are involved in this sin. ¹⁴Let our officials stay in Jerusalem and take charge of the matter. Then let anyone who has a foreign wife come at a set time, together with the leaders and the judges of his city. In this way God’s anger over this situation will be turned away.” ¹⁵No one was opposed to the plan except Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, who had the support of Meshullam and of Shabbethai, a Levite.

¹⁶The returned exiles accepted the plan, so Ezra the priest appointed men from among the heads of the clans and recorded their names. On the first day of the tenth month they began their investigation, ¹⁷and within the next three months they investigated all the cases of men with foreign wives.

The Men who had Foreign Wives

¹⁸This is the list of the men who had foreign wives:

Priests, listed by clans:

Clan of Joshua and his brothers, sons of Jehozadak: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. ¹⁹They promised to divorce their wives, and they offered a ram as a sacrifice for their sins.

²⁰Clan of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah

²¹Clan of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah

²²Clan of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

²³Levites:

Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

²⁴Musicians:

Eliashib.

Temple guards:

Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

²⁵Others:

Clan of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah

²⁶Clan of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah

²⁷Clan of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza

²⁸Clan of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai

²⁹Clan of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth

³⁰Clan of Pahath Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh

^31-32Clan of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah

³³Clan of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei

^34-37Clan of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu

^38-42Clan of Binnui: Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph

⁴³Clan of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

⁴⁴All these men had foreign wives. They divorced them and sent them and their children away.

As I said sometimes, someone may be born blind and it’s no fault of his or any sin he has committed, or his parent had committed. John 9. WHEN You find yourself in trouble, do you sometimes think, I must have done something wrong. The disciples weren’t in the storm by disobeying but obeying Jesus; not by rejecting Gods will but by embracing it. The bible says, ……. Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go …….’, and they obeyed. At times you will find yourself in troubled waters because you did what was right. When this happens here are some helpful lessons from the disciple’s experience 1) obedience doesn’t guarantee there will be no storms. The disciples had just seen Jesus’ feed five thousand people with 5 bread rolls and two fishes and end up with more food than he started with. Understand when God doesn’t solve your problem, he shows up in the middle of it and cause you to come out stronger. 2) Fear doesn’t mean you are a failure. It’s just a reminder that you are human, and we should remember who is in charge. This will transform how we see trials.

Years ago, I was in a church that said for imperfect people and with my imperfect behavior I entered. At the time the pastor was suffering some level of disappointments he called injustice. I was going through my own private hell, as well. So, I liked this guy in a platonic way (he had a family), unknown to me I didn’t realize that we behaved in the same way. So, I defended his family, I didn’t realize that it took a fox to recognize a fox.

He was a car deals man in America but was heavily anointed and pretended to be nothing. I wondered why we agreed on everything. The day I failed my English the sky turns red orange when we prayed. An odd occurrence, he used up all his money on mission and in his hour of need in another European country, he got nothing instead and claimed the church there was a hard ground. Of course, I agreed with him, I was going through the same thing two years sleepless night with prejudice and bias on my result. So, he left the EU nation bitterly and I left as well in the same manner. Looking back, I realize we both on trial and we just did not know it. I have been in and out of many waters it seems I’m getting used to this game. God allowed it to deepen our strength in him and myself. If we believe God is unjust, he will suffer unjustly, and only unjust people would come to us. This pastor returns to America AND months after another American came who stayed for 6 months and left thereafter and while I left, I heard another person from the UK a woman came but left after the pandemic. Since then, none had gone to this atheist nation. So, it seemed the preacher got his justice for what was done to him and his family, but where was the mercy for the lost souls there. Reading John 9: 1- 4, we see a man having no fault born blind from birth. I realize this problem the pastor had was not his doing as the man born blind but because the works of God had to be made manifest in him. Sometimes, God had to break us, so we can dig deeper to win souls. We sometimes suffer so Gods work would be done in us.

In Deuteronomy 22 “If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, 29 then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days.

There was a principle that if a man meets a virgin not betrothed and seizes her and lies with her, he had a high price to pay for this. So, this is why in songs of Solomon, Solomon is advised not to awaken love until the time is right. TWICE. So, there is a timing for love much like the time Jesus returns for his bride.

Songs of Solomon 3 vs 4 says I charge you daughters of Jerusalem not to awaken love until the time is right. why it has consequences, as Deuteronomy shows. so, we see Jesus as with Solomon coming out of the wilderness, and Solomon was perfumed with myrrh and frankincense and pillar of silver, bottom gold. The very same gifts given to Jesus when he was young. And Solomon was young and inexperienced when he got these gifts.

He then entreats in Song of Solomon 4: 7 that I am all fair and there is no spot in me (purity), Song of Solomon 5: 2 undefiled woman is what Solomon was seeking for. So, if Solomon a king could choose and seek for a pure bride, why won’t Jesus come for a pure bride unblemished bride. We see Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world. Purity and Holiness matter to God, even Jesus was a spotless and harmless lamb. We can ascribe for those without putting one another down.

Songs:

Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” – John 21: 23

The first call to Gods return was seen in John 21: 22 Jesus saith unto him, if i tarry until i come, what is it to thee? follow thou me and the one in verse 23 he said if I want to return, what is that to you? In this, chapter someone had already preached it to me previously, John Redmond and his views on this one that I may echo, that sometimes, we have fished and toiled and caught nothing and that when Jesus appeared telling them to launch out into the deep. They caught so many fish. Even Simon pulled his clothe to enter into the sea to drag his net out as it was too heavy to drag out.

One wonders why SIMON peter who was Christ disciple, God would allow him toil so much and catch nothing but he upon seeing Jesus cast his net and caught many fish. In this we not only see Gods love for us through our hardship but also our commission to go and catch many fish. Sometimes, God allows us to toil so he can direct us where to throw our net – i.e. the right so we can catch fish.

On the account of John 21, Jesus begins to ask Simon PETER, do you love me, and Simon says, lord you know that I agape you. Then he tells Simon then feed my fish. Whether we feel loved by God or not loved by God we are commission to feed Christ sheep. It’s in doing his will that we find his purpose and enter his will for our lives it seems. According, to John sometimes we cannot see the love of God, but we know he is there. I feel burdened myself like I am not doing well enough given how much I know but I guess it is tiny drops that make an ocean.

John 21:18 in the Bible states: “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (NIV

Even if we are not assured of his love for us, we know God is with us.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9: 38.
Sometimes, when the plot thickens for harvest of souls, we relent than call forth more laborers to harvest. Matthew 9: 38 – 39 Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” He instructed his disciples to pray for more workers to join the harvest. I was called you too are called today. One of such people who worked the fields of harvest is Ruth, she worked the field of Boaz and Boaz translates to strength. We have jobs, ministry and different roles where we to work but whose fields are we working on? It’s in working in the field of harvest we get bread and water. God encourage everyone struggling to do God work to keep on working on the field of harvest to keep working.

This is why Jesus said awake you sleepers: Why when we sleep the enemy may come to sow tares Matthew 13:25-35, so even though tares may grow with wheat as Jesus said: But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them but gather the wheat into my barn.” HE IS STILL THE LORD OF THE HARVEST. Whose field are you working on tares or wheat.




Songs

One of my favorite stories in the bible was Jesus turning water into wine in Cana Galilee. Its been a rough path for me so I too decided to turn water to wine. The six water of jar Jesus had signify the number of the first Adam created on the six day, so the jar was filled as we are filled with rivers of living water that flows from our belly. And outwardly is baptism signify repentance. Inwardly and Outward baptism signifies revival of the man. Revival for me signify that signifies baptism on the outside and wellspring on the inside. And Jesus in John 2: 1 – 11 the water drawn turned to wine.

Similarly at the cross the pierced his side and lo water and blood signified came out. But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. ³ John 19: 34.

Another intriguing thing is “⁴ “Woman,^[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” John 2: 1 – 11. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26: 39 His reluctance at the cross was the reluctance he had to change water to whine. I guess we all have a bit of Jonah in us. Never the less not my will but your will be done as Mary and her son say, say I.

The banner of God is the Standard of God. Sometimes, I think its because one has lived a blameless life, we think we are spotless, I am reminded how unworthy I am and how we have all fallen from the standard of God.
As an individual, family, church, or a nation stands for righteousness and truth. And though impeding we have no righteousness of our own, its rag before God and once we stumble its not complete obedience and therefore not truth. So, we all lacking in some way, as King Asa did what was good and right in the sight of God: It didn’t still deter him from as he knew how powerless he was despite his work with God. His prayer a simple reminder that we are not sufficient in ourselves. Jehovah Nissi.

⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 

It was like I was told by God yesterday to read this passage. Why, I read you have toiled and labored all day and caught nothing. Then I heard feed my sheep, now for me, I believe a woman is not suffered to preach the gospel. And I opened my devotion, to see

1 Corinthians 9: 16 "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

Many people go through life without ever recognizing the special gift God has deposited in them. As a result, they fail to fulfil their singular purpose for being. They may achieve great things in other areas of life, but before God, their lives have been a waste.

Apostle Paul was never going to be one who lived like that. He had a special gift from God, to preach the gospel. The Lord singled him out as “a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentile and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9: 15). Whatever gift we possess in life was made by God to enable us fulfil his purpose on earth. We are to be driven by the need to please God and properly utilizing our divine endowments. This brings meaning and true definition of life.

Personally, I am not religious and to take into laws and heavy necessities from human dictates. Another reason is i read Isaiah 29: 24 saying this men draw close to me with their mouth and lips but their heart is far from me” my question to God is that where are the men right. After all, we are not to suffer a woman to preach. So, for women to preach it really means the level of men is second to rubbish (and no i don’t feel offended by this statement, even if it provokes men). It seems like we are back in the time of Deborah. Where there are no men so women had to do what men should do, SHAME.

Because some crazy person randomly found out about the gift, I had this year was no surprise at all. I found out why I had the thorn because like Paul, I didn’t want the gentile nations to be wise. Romans 11:14 in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them. in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. The reality strikes twice, because Paul knew more than what he was telling the gentile nations things his own people didn’t know because they were hardened. 2 Corinthians 12:7. 2 Corinthians 11: 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea. One could understand why he was reluctant to share his knowledge gained to the gentile nations. I understand, a lot about Paul felt, seeing that he became a servant to all eventually. But then 1 Corinthians 9: 19. Every connotation if this year has 6 in it, the sum of my year and 2024 (2+4 = 6) so, I guess it is the year of mans rebellion.

 Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent! 2 Corinthians 10 -13 gave the description of Paul. Afterall, we are called to God, so I will gladly share all that I have.

so, I realized what approach Paul used and well we will not be telling!

I hear a lot of people tell me; are you wiser than God when God says it is not good for man to be alone. Truly, God said in the beginning that:

“And the LORD God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.” Genesis 2: 18 

It was before the fall. Sin had not entered into the world. So, Adam was IN the presence of God. That the presence of God was where he was IN called EDEN (THE SPOT). Hence, he was without sin, he was IN God presence and could sense the presence of God. Genesis 3: 8 – 15 “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden“.

We see Adam in the presence of God trying to hide himself from the presence of the Lord amongst trees. He was in the presence of God.

Much like the teddy bear in the presence of God, receiving love and provision from God.

But then sin entered the world, so even the wisest man Solomon. Had this to say about companionship and not marriage but people ascribe it to marriage mostly, but it could be used in workplace, friendship as well.

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Ecclesiastes 4: 9 - 12

Even Solomon’s marriage to foreign women was more turbulent but yet he gave advice on women, marriage etc. But we see here, a greater than Solomon wisdom which comes from Jesus on marriage:

And said, for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marries her which is put away doth commit adultery.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11 But he said unto them, all men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is **GIVEN**.

There are people it’s given to that should not marry. in verse 10, 11. A Jesus has a greater than Solomons knowledge. In a perfect world without sin, it is not good for man to be ALONE. But in the imperfect world we live in; marriage can be lonely or in God, this is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7: 8 “Now to the unmarried [] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. “

Jesus says this and Paul reinstates this: To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. ¹¹ But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 1 Corinthians 7: 10.

This is why since Eden does not exist anymore. Because we are not in the presence of God surrounding us, instead Eden exists within us as the Holy spirit dwells in us. so, we were not in the world, we are in the presence of God in the beginning when there’s no sin. In short Eden is called “delightful spot” and when we delight in the lord we joy in his presence – worship. This is why Jesus said:

15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. 17 That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you all ALONE.

Notice the word ALONE, he is giving us another HELPER which is the Holy spirit because if you cannot create Eden, you can do this with his spirit. And he knew we would not be alone again; Hence, Paul said one can be alone as well as Jesus. It is possible. Sometimes, knowledge makes us brutish, arrogant and even oppress but Gods knowledge gives birth to humility; to sacrifice even when it’s not needed for the greater good of others and the world.

Jesus a master class in obedience and humility told his mother my hour has not yet come; why do you bother me; but still change water to wine. Throughout the scripture he said but the hour had not yet come to crucify him, when it’s not our time; do not awaken love until its time. Love is GOD and he has times and seasons. In short, God is not in time that why in his presence, we don’t have time or care about, and our worries fade away.

Not all knowledge/wisdom is as powerful as that of God; his love for us given to us through his son who became wisdom for us transcend our doings far more than you know.

Since, we are called to obey and none of us after seeing the sacrifice could not yield; it is in fact that it is my life that has become his and his life has become mine. (mines still in the future).

Songs:

A woman who works hard is not bad, a woman who is ambitious is. Ciao.