Ezra 10:6

Ezra 10:6 says, Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.  Ezra got up from his position of humbleness before the house of God, went into the chamber of Eliashib, but he was still mourning for the sins of the people of Israel while they had been in captivity.  He didn’t eat or drink.  I don’t think we often mourn that deeply for the sins of those who have been carried away captive to sin.  I believe that we need to be more concerned about the sins of the nation than we seem to be.  Ezra wasn’t just mourning for his sins, and we should take our sin seriously if we have allowed it back into our lives, but we need to also be concerned about the sinful practices of everyone that may have become acceptable.  

Verse seven adds, And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;  A proclamation was made throughout all of Judah and Jerusalem that they were to gather in Jerusalem.  This was the city of David, where he united the people of Israel.  There really was no better place for them to come back to in order to once again follow God’s laws.  Most of us don't really have such a place today, but we meet at the foot of the cross.  That is the only way that we can be made right with God, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on that cross to bring forgiveness for our sins, if we will only accept it.  The sad part about it is that everyone’s sins have been forgiven, but many will never accept that forgiveness.  We must put our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and lord in order to claim His forgiveness.   

Verse eight continues, And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.  Those who would not come within three days would lose everything and be separated from the nation of Israel.  Those today who do not come to Jesus Christ in their lifetime will lose everything and be forever separated from God and His people when they die or when Jesus Christ returns.  

Verse nine concludes, Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.  The people of Judah and Benjamin gathered there within three days.  They sat in the street of the house of God trembling, because of the great matter at hand and because of the great rain.   We might think that God would have made it nice and sunny for them, but He didn’t.  We should never allow the weather to come between God and us, especially if there is some great spiritual matter that needs to be settled.  Of course, the first step is to come to Jesus when He calls, and then to put our faith in Him as our personal Savior and Lord.