Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
‭‭Ezra‬ ‭10:3‬

God commanded Israel not to marry those who worshipped false gods. They did it anyway. It disgraced God and brought them nothing but trouble.

The devotional application is that the church should not be married with the world. It is true that a believer should not marry an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14), but that is not the bad marriage I’m referring to.

Church history tells the story of the church constantly climbing into bed with the world, and it is no different today. Maybe we are a bit more brazen, flaunting our part time lovers out in the open. Happiness is the new purpose. Psychology and Self-help are the new solution. Popular opinion and personal experience are the new authority. Social justice and politics are the new fight. Success is the new mission. The Church is the bride of Christ, but she has taken a lover.

We need to put away these wives. Holiness is our purpose. The Holy Spirit is our solution. The Bible is our authority. Our fight is spiritual battle. And making disciples is our only mission.

The book of Ezra paints this picture for us. We all know it is impossible to build a home on a bad marriage. Well, you cannot build the house of God on one either. I think it’s time to renew our vows and return to our first love.