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 kinds of sin]." 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 at all. And, in some instances, whole denominations have caved in to the world's and the devil's "gospels.”
Still, "even in spite of this," “there truly is hope in Israel [viz. the church]." Why? Because Christ is still on His throne; and He will greatly revive His elect church, and bring her to wonderful expressions of glory (as He has done in the past).
[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"]
