Today's encouragement comes from Ezra 10:2b, where we read these words:
" . . . yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this."These words (above) are extremely encouraging. They are spoken in the midst of some serious sinning done by the covenant people of God, (in that many of them had taken pagan wives). When we apply this text to our own day, it may still be said that, "yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of [all our foolishness and unfaithfulness]." Today, many of the Lord's people do not worship Him according to God's word. In many cases, the Lord's Day is not kept. And, in some instances, whole church denominations have gone "belly-up," caving into the world's and the devil's "gospels."
But STILL, even "in spite of this," "there is hope in Israel [viz. the church].” Why is this so? Because Christ is still on His throne; and He is still having HIs gospel proclaimed in faithful churches, by His Spirit-filled clergymen.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ suffered that which the damned in hell do not suffer. For they do not see the hateful nature of sin.” —Jonathan Ed-wards, in his sermon entitled, "The Justice of God"]
