1. God moves people's hearts (1-6)

When Ezra prayed for his people's sin of intermarriage with godless people, God moved other peoples' hearts to repentance as well. Then God inspired Shekaniah son of Jehiel to propose the difficult but necessary solution. He encouraged Ezra and promised to support Ezra's leadership. The leading priests and Levites took action first, swearing an oath to send their foreign wives and children away. Today, God does not command us to separate from an unbelieving spouse, but to separate ourselves from our sins by any means (1Co 7:12-14).

2. A service of repentance and decision (7-44)

Ezra issued a proclamation for the exiles to gather in Jerusalem. All the men of Judah and Benjamin turned out for the assembly. Ezra proclaimed the people's guilt, and the people agreed to do what they had to do to make it right. God inspired leaders to manage this difficult task practically. It was a successful movement of community repentance, which set God's people on the right track for generations to come.