Torah Meditations from Ezra/Nehemiah

You are so special to the Lord!

Do you ever wish you were more special? You know – the really important people wanted you around. Well, if you belong to the Lord, your “wish” has been granted. He loves you so much that He calls you His own and He even tells you He wants you to be holy – be set apart – because He is Holy. Sometimes people think being holy is almost like a punishment, but it is the Love Language of the Lord who wants to keep you from the filth of the world and keep you close to Himself – that is special! In Ezra, we see G-d’s people who have done the opposite.  

Ezra 9:1,2 Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying: The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the land doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.  For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons; so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands; yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been first in this faithlessness.

1. Who were the ones who were not separating themselves? 

2. What were the people, the priests and the Levites doing?

3. Which word describes their actions?

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

1. How do the above verses show us that G-d wants to be special in our lives? 

2. What do the words “they shall be my people” reveal about G-d?

                      HOW ARE WE KEEPING G-D SPECIAL IN OUR LIVES?

                                  Is there anything we need to change?