Soon after Ezra’s arrival, the officials of the returned exiles bring to the faithful scribe an urgent need for spiritual care. They admit to Ezra their faithlessness of intermarriage with the idolaters of the land of Canaan. Ezra’s initial response is mourning and repentance, and that evening he turns to the LORD in prayer. Recognizing God’s undeserved favor in bringing His people back from exile, Ezra confesses the sins of the people along with them and prays that the LORD would spare His people from His righteous anger according to His mercy.

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezra 9:1-15.

"God Brings His People Home” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. After 70 years in exile, the LORD began to fulfill His promise to bring His people back to the Promised Land. In the years that followed, faithful clergy and dedicated laity worked together to rebuild Jerusalem physically and restore the people of God spiritually. Through it all, God was at work to keep His promise of bringing the Savior into the world in the fullness of time.