Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Nov 15 2019 - Ezra 10:1-17 – Dealing with foreign marriages

Ezra's distress over the intermarriage between Jews and people from other nations was soon shared by many of the people – even those who had taken foreign wives. We read:

Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, ‘We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.’ (vv. 2-4)

Ezra summoned a meeting of all the exiles who had returned to Jerusalem and Judah and assembled them uncomfortably in the rain in the square before the temple. He commanded them each to separate from their foreign wives and families. And so it was done, with "only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite" opposing this action (v. 15).

What are we to make of this chapter, which continues with a long list of those who had married foreign wives and been required to send them away? We need to be careful how we read the Scriptures. Just because we read of something happening in the Bible, that does not mean that it was the right and appropriate thing to do. This is quite obvious when we read of such incidents as David's adultery with Bathsheba and the arranged death of her husband, but it is equally true even in less obvious examples. Was it right for wives and children to be sent away without support even if those wives were devotees of another religion and engaged in idol worship – even if they were polygamous marriages? The apostle Paul, faced with marriages between believers and unbelievers in Corinth gives very different instructions (see 1 Corinthians 7:12-14).

Let me tell you a story concerning the famous explorer and missionary, David Livingstone. It seems that, in conventional terms, he was not very successful in leading the people of Africa to faith in Christ. He had only one African convert, Sechele, the chief of the Bakwena tribe in what is now Botswana. But Livingstone soon wrote off his convert as a backslider because he would not abandon his secondary wives. Sechele pleaded with Livingstone, "Do not give me up because of this. I shall never give up Jesus. You and I will stand before him together." His pleas did not move Livingstone, but after he left, Sechele led church services for his own people. He taught them to read and the Bible became popular. Gradually the Bakwena became Christians. Sechele then travelled hundreds of miles as a missionary to other tribes and many more were drawn to Christ through his ministry.

Was Livingstone right? Was Sechele right?

One thing is clear, the Lord looks for a people who are wholeheartedly devoted to him and who are careful to avoid anything that would lead them away from him. We are often faced with difficult decisions about what this means in practical terms in our daily lives. We want to be good witnesses to the world around us and so are concerned not to cut ourselves off from those who don't share our faith. We don't want to live in a Christian ghetto. We want to be like our Lord Jesus who was often found in dubious company and was criticised by the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders for this. We want to be those whose lives are a blessing to others, but we need to be careful that our friendship with others leads them towards Christ rather than leading us away from him.

Lord Jesus, help us by your Spirit to have the wisdom and discernment to know what you would have us do in the difficult decisions we need to make day-by-day. May we do what is pleasing to you and brings your presence and blessing to those around us.

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Nov 15 2020 - John 10:1-21 – The Good Shepherd

The depiction of the leaders of God’s people as unfaithful shepherds is not uncommon in the Old Testament prophets. Jeremiah accuses them of destroying and scattering God’s flock (Jeremiah 23:1-2). They are shepherds who have led the flock astray so that they have wandered off into desert places and become prey to attackers (Jeremiah 50:6). Ezekiel goes further in accusing the shepherds of Israel of slaughtering and feeding themselves on the flock (Ezekiel 34:1-10). In both of these prophetic pictures, the Lord declares that he will come to rescue and shepherd his own flock (Jeremiah 23:3; 50:19; Ezekiel 34:11-16).

No doubt Jesus had such passages in mind when, by way of contrast, he spoke of himself as the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. He is the one who leads the sheep into abundant pastures so that they enjoy life to the full (John 10:10). He is the Lord, come to rescue and to shepherd his own flock.

Ironically, their life comes at the cost of his death. Jesus does not simply say that he is willing to lay down his life for the sheep, but that he will lay down his life for them. He has the power to lay it down – no one takes his life from him – and he has the power to take it up again. He is the good shepherd in his death – laying down his life for the sheep. He is the great shepherd by his resurrection life (Hebrews 13:20-21) – still leading, protecting and providing for the sheep (Psalm 23, cf. Isaiah 40:11), so that they will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

As the good shepherd, Jesus "calls his own sheep by name and leads them out" (10:3). He calls them by name; he knows each one, values each one, cares for each one. And they in turn know him; "he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice" (10:4). These words are more than incidentals of the illustration that Jesus is using, for he then goes on to speak plainly, saying, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father" (10:14).

To be a Christian is not merely to assent to a set of doctrines; it is to know and follow Christ. Even more precious, it is to know that we are known by him, owned by him and loved by him. It is to be drawn into the inner circle – the embrace – of the life of God.

What are the implications of Jesus' words for daily discipleship? First and foremost, we have the assurance that he does not call us to go anywhere where he does not go first; we are called always to follow, always to be with him. But secondly, it reminds us of our need to listen and to follow. We live in a world of a thousand clamouring voices; we need spiritual discernment to hear and discern the voice of Christ and to follow him (see the contrast in 10:4-5). It is in following his call that we find life in all its fullness (10:10).

Above the voices of the world around me,
my hopes and dreams, my cares and loves and fears,
the long-awaited call of Christ has found me,
the voice of Jesus echoes in my ears:
`I gave my life to break the cords that bind you,
I rose from death to set your spirit free;
turn from your sins and put the past behind you,
take up your cross and come and follow me.'

Lord Jesus, help me to hear your voice today and follow you closely. Restore my soul and lead me in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake.

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Peter Misselbrook