"And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, 'We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this.' "
When all looked dark and hopeless, an otherwise obscure Old Coven-
ant churchman (Shechaniah) comes alongside the despondent leader Ezra, and offers this encouragement (above). The reality is that there is always hope, so long as we are still alive. No matter how much di-
vine wrath one has garnered against his soul because of sin--real faith in Jesus, married with serious and sincere repentance--can and will lead to renewed hope. . . .
That is what happened in ancient Israel, as the pagan wife issue was dealt with, after the people of God renewed their covenant with the Lord. Are you (or someone you know) ready to totally despair? As long as there is a Redeemer, and as long as He leaves His church on earth, there is real hope.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Whatever may be wished for in an all-suf-
ficient Comforter is all to be found in Christ." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
