Please read Ezra 9 verses 1 through 5. They begin with the words “When these things were done”. What things had been done?

The people had sinned by intermarrying with the inhabitants of the land. Please find the Old Testament passages which forbid this. For what reason had God forbidden this intermarriage? Is there any parallel in this for our lives today?

If so, what would that be?

Describe Ezra’s reaction when he found out about this. Does this seem melodramatic to you? In your opinion, do we take sin as seriously as Ezra seems to have?

Gathered unto Ezra for his time of confession and prayer were those “who trembled at the words of God”? What does this mean, and are we still to have this same awe or fear at His word?

Please read verses 6 through 15. Is this more a prayer, or a sermon?

Why does Ezra include himself in the confession beginning in verse 6?

Ezra refers to the “grace” given by God in verse 8. We tend to believe that the Old Testament was filled with law, the new Testament with grace. Is that an accurate assessment? What other measures of God’s grace can be seen in the verses of this prayer?

Over and over Ezra refers to the “abominations” of the people of the land. Just what were these abominations?

React to the overall tone of this prayer. How would you feel if a prayer like this one was to be prayed in our assembly?

What happens in chapter 10 is one of the most difficult, heart wrenching incidents in the Old Testament. We see the dissolution of untold families. Although the people sinned in forming the marriages in the first place, it seems on the surface to be all but cruel for the women and their (presumably) innocent children to be cast away. Do you think God required this, or did the people decide to do this on their own?

Identify the major players in this drama. Who were Shecaniah and Johanan?

Outline exactly what happened over the course of the following days. How did the rainy weather impact the actions of the people? Why do you feel it is important for us to know about the weather?

The chapter ends with a lengthy list of names. Please share your insights into who the Spirit of God chooses at times to give us so many names which apparently have no meaning to us.