TOPIC: Revival; Deliverance, Discipline, Forgiveness, Sanctuary
TITLE: ESCAPE AND SANCTUARY – A Brief moment of grace!
TEXT: Ezra 9:8 [5-15]
TRUTH/CONTEXT: In the midst of a section on the dangers of God’s people commingling their assets with non-believers (i.e., marriage to non-Jews), the prophet Ezra comments on the reality of his little group’s situation. He is well into his confession for the people when he makes his observation.
Three truths are evident in his words –
Also apparently, Ezra foresees their freedom as being in their possession only “for a brief moment.”
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How is “a brief moment of grace” shown here?
EXPANDED OUTLINE
And it matters not that it is for “a little reviving” for any small morsel in the service of God is a filling feast for the soul of man.
The conclusion drawn by the prophet from the reality of their situation is this – since, due to our sins, we deserve no grace at all, a moment of grace and an iota grace is sufficient to cause us to avoid sinning even more.
In the midst of this bounty,
For what purpose? For the same purpose as was offered the returned Hebrews – “(to) enlighten out eyes and (to) grant us a little reviving in our bondage.”
We too, being delivered from bondage find ourselves in it again; needing sustained grace, get only sufficient grace; needing a huge revival, get only a little from time to time.
Yet remember, we deserve punishment in Hell forever for our transgressions; we get enlightenment instead.
So leave here today and walk like a man who's received a reprieve from further bondage and death.
TITLE: ESCAPE AND SANCTUARY – A Brief moment of grace!
TEXT: Ezra 9:8 [5-15]
"... now, for a brief moment, grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage."FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How is “a brief moment of grace” shown here?
TRUTH/CONTEXT: In the midst of a section on the dangers of God’s people commingling their assets with non-believers (i.e., marriage to non-Jews), the prophet Ezra comments on the reality of his little group’s situation. He is well into his confession for the people when he makes his observation.
Three truths are evident in his words –
- God places ethical and moral demands upon His people
- God’s righteousness demands punishment for transgressions
- God is merciful; forgiveness, deliverance, and revival are provisions of His mercy
Also apparently, Ezra foresees their freedom as being in their possession only “for a brief moment.”
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How is “a brief moment of grace” shown here?
EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. THE LORD LEFT THIS GROUP AN ESCAPED REMNANT!A. Though in the thousands they represented only a fraction of their former selfII. THE LORD GAVE THEM A PEG IN HIS HOLY PLACE!The ten northern tribes were lost to all until the appointed time in the end timesB. Though in the thousands they were a small group to revive a great nationA. Two pictures are possible –1. That of a coat peg in the holy place of GodB. In either case, the remnant has a God provided place to –a) For some reason this one appeals to me
b) Perhaps the Holy Place in the Temple(1) Implies a place to serve
(2) Great comfort to own place of worship2. That of a tent peg in Jerusalema) This one goes well with a small escaped remnant
b) Perhaps a place of sanctuary (to escape to)
c) Or a place to be hung for safe keeping by owner1. Either rest their hat
2. Or rest their head
APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Notice the purpose of this provision – “that our God may”
- enlighten our eyes and
- grant us a little reviving in our bondage
And it matters not that it is for “a little reviving” for any small morsel in the service of God is a filling feast for the soul of man.
The conclusion drawn by the prophet from the reality of their situation is this – since, due to our sins, we deserve no grace at all, a moment of grace and an iota grace is sufficient to cause us to avoid sinning even more.
In the midst of this bounty,
- how ungrateful to offend a God who has been so kind
- how hypocritical to continue mingling with unbelievers
- how unwise to risk God’s displeasure when we are dependent upon Him for what little we have
For what purpose? For the same purpose as was offered the returned Hebrews – “(to) enlighten out eyes and (to) grant us a little reviving in our bondage.”
We too, being delivered from bondage find ourselves in it again; needing sustained grace, get only sufficient grace; needing a huge revival, get only a little from time to time.
Yet remember, we deserve punishment in Hell forever for our transgressions; we get enlightenment instead.
So leave here today and walk like a man who's received a reprieve from further bondage and death.
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