그러므로 우리의 지도자들을 대표로 뽑아서 여기 모인 사람들의 일을 맡기도록 합시다. 성읍마다 외국 여인과 결혼한 사람들에게 날짜를 정하여 주어서, 그들이 자기 성읍의 원로들과 재판장들과 함께 나오게 하십시오. 그렇게 해서 이 문제 때문에 일어난 우리 하나님의 진노를 우리에게서 떠나가게 하는 합시다.”
이 구절의 의미
Ezra is telling the leaders and judges to gather and deal with those who have married foreign wives. He believes their actions have angered God and they need to correct this.
어린이를 위한 설명
Imagine you and your friends did something that made your teacher really upset. Now, you have to tell your parents and the teacher so they can decide how to fix things and make the teacher happy again. That's what's happening here, but with grown-ups and God.
역사적 배경
The Book of Ezra was written after the Israelites returned from exile in Babylon. The verse reflects the time when they were trying to rebuild their community and religious practices, and were concerned about intermarriage with non-Israelites, which was seen as a threat to their identity and faith.
오늘의 적용
In a modern scenario, if a community discovers that its values are being compromised due to outside influences, it might organize a town hall meeting to address the issue and find a solution together, much like the gathering described in this verse.
Why is marrying foreign wives considered a problem in this verse?
Marrying outside the community was seen as a threat to preserving their religious and cultural identity, which was important after their return from exile.
What does 'fierce wrath' of God mean?
'Fierce wrath' refers to God's strong displeasure and the consequences that come from actions that go against His will, in this case, intermarriage.
How does this verse relate to leadership?
Leaders in the community are called to gather and take action, showing their role in addressing and correcting community issues to align with God's will.
Is this verse applicable to modern-day communities?
While the specific context is unique, the principle of leaders addressing community issues and preserving values can be applied to modern communities dealing with similar challenges.