Costly Compromise, Painful Obedience in Ezra 9-10 BSF Lession 12

Why does God use Marriage as a metaphor for a relationship with Him?When a good marriage is very good and shining. But when we enter into a sacred trust and life-alignment with those who do not love nor care for God, we can jeopardize our own faith. Does it really matter? Is it a big deal? What should be done? Those are the questions asked by the people who didn't think too deeply about this as they resettled the land and return to being a people devoted to God.What if any kind of marriage will do? What happens if we perpetuate the idea that any living arrangement with any group of people you have strong emotional feelings for is alright and acceptable to God? Wouldn't people increasingly let their fickle feelings decide on their most important decisions and devotions, and may lead in time to choosing the counterfeit over the good designed by God?Lesson 12 Outline: Doctrine: Sin, Its Character and UniversalityAttribute of God: RighteousCATL: of the gravity of our sins’ foothold, hindering holiness, purity, and living into His Great Purposes for our livesI. CONTAMINATION & MOURNING Ezra 9A) Appalled at sin (9:1-4)B) Anguished in prayer(9:5-15)P1:God reveals the gravity of our sin to change our posture and perspectivesII. COOPERATION & CLEANSING Ezra 10A) Corporate Confession (10:1-6)B) Corporate Commitment (10:7-15)C) Corporate Cleansing (10:16-44)P2:Our response to revealed sin reveals what we believe about God.