Ezra 9:2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

When the Jews had settled down in the land and had refreshed themselves, a new problem arose.  Some of the Jews were inter-marrying with the daughters of the land. The mingling of the holy seed with the heathen people was always the curse of Israel, and it has been the temptation of God’s children in every age (Numbers 25:1-3). They became like them and began to worship the gods of the heathens.

What was the sin? It was mingling with the people of those lands (Ezra 9:2). They were guilty of associating with them both in trade and in conversation, making themselves familiar with them, and, to complete the affinity, taking their daughters in marriages to their sons. We would have thought that the seventy years spent in captivity would have cured them of their idolatry but obviously it didn’t. They had forgotten it was idolatry that God punished them with seventy years in exile (2 Kings 24:1-4).

The holy seed was chosen to be a holy people above all others, and devoted to the service and worship of God but they had mingled themselves with the people of those lands. Instead of being a people separated unto God, they became one of them.

Christians are a people who have been separated, set apart for God’s services: “But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

As Christians, we have been called out from darkness into the light of God. It means we have been separated from the world. Just as light cannot mix with darkness, the Christian is either living in the light or living in darkness (1 John 1:6). Paul wrote: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,” (Romans 12:2a). To be conformed is to be mingled with the world and be one of them.

John wrote: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

By "the world" is meant the ways of the world, its passions, pleasures and pursuits. The love of God and the love of earthly things are incompatible. Christ says one cannot serve God and mammon at the same time (Matthew 6:24). The word “mammon” refers to riches. The meaning is, we cannot serve the true God, and at the same time be actively engaged in obtaining the riches of this world.  A Christian who mingles with this world and spends all his time chasing after its riches cannot be focused to serve God. The love of this world will overwhelm him, destroying his faith (2 Timothy 4:10).

By separation, I do not mean a Christian cannot own a car, get a job, and have friends who are unbelievers, or love to see the world. Paul says if that is the case, we need to go out of this world (1 Corinthians 5:10). But by separation, I mean he is not one who is chasing materialism and one whose life is different from the world. A spiritual Christian is focused on serving God (1 Corinthians 15:58). While the world is chasing materialism, he wants to serve God. He will let go his hold on the world and hold the hands of God (Hebrews 12:2). By separation, it also means a Christian lives differently from the world. He aims to be holy in his conduct (1 Peter 1:15).

Have you been mingling with the people of the land?

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.