12 'So now do not give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters to your sons , and never seek their peace or their prosperity , that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever e .' 13 "After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt , since You our God have requited us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us an escaped remnant as this , 14 shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations ? Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction , until there is no remnant nor any who escape ? 15 "O Lord God of Israel , You are righteous , for we have been left an escaped remnant , as it is this day ; behold , we are before You in our guilt , for no one can stand before You because of this ."
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Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezra 9:12-15
Commentary on Ezra 9:5-15
(Read Ezra 9:5-15)
The sacrifice, especially the evening sacrifice, was a type of the blessed Lamb of God, who in the evening of the world, was to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Ezra's address is a penitent confession of sin, the sin of his people. But let this be the comfort of true penitents, that though their sins reach to the heavens, God's mercy is in the heavens. Ezra, speaking of sin, speaks as one much ashamed. Holy shame is as necessary in true repentance as holy sorrow. Ezra speaks as much amazed. The discoveries of guilt cause amazement; the more we think of sin, the worse it looks. Say, God be merciful to me sinner. Ezra speaks as one much afraid. There is not a surer or saddler presage of ruin, than turning to sin, after great judgments, and great deliverances. Every one in the church of God, has to wonder that he has not wearied out the Lord's patience, and brought destruction upon himself. What then must be the case of the ungodly? But though the true penitent has nothing to plead in his own behalf, the heavenly Advocate pleads most powerfully for him.