In the midst of such confusion and shame there was one, Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, who was used of God to bring the first glimmer of hope to the people of God. Ezra’s profound sense of the sin committed, and his public grief and confession, had aroused other faithful men. Though Shechaniah says, “we have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives” (Ezra 10:2), he spoke on behalf of the people; his name does not appear with those who had to put away their wives. His father, Jehiel, however, could well have been amongst the number (see v. 26). It must have taken great spiritual courage for Shechaniah to take such a stand.
The only remedy in times of declension and failure, such as in the scene before us, is faithful obedience to the Word of God. “Let it be done according to the law” (Ezra 10:3). Confession and obedience to the Word of God brings hope (Ezra 10:2). Confession is not enough; there must be action as well. Obedience without action is not obedience at all. Godly sorrow with the Corinthians resulted in great action. Paul could write, “ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter” (2 Cor. 7:11).
On the other hand, action without confession must end in ruin. It is legality, and often the most legal of men turn out to be the most immoral. Legality is a slavish adherence to rules when the heart is not engaged; it is doing things according to the letter, but never entering into the spirit. Sadly, legality often turns people away from the Word of God. The Word of God is good, and to be obedient to it is a good thing; we should not allow the behavior of those that abuse it, to turn us from it. Often the one who rejects legality rejects the truth as well, forgetting that it was not the problem — sadly, such a course suggests that the truth was never bought in the first place.
It takes courage to walk in the path of obedience — taking one step at a time, not knowing what the outcome may be (Ezra 10:4). Though restoration is indeed a happy thing, it is not without mourning. Disobedience comes at a great cost; in this instance, especially for the strange wives, their husbands, and the children born to them (Ezra 10:44). Sin bears bitter fruit. There could be no rejoicing at what had to be done — just mourning and weeping. Even the rain contributed to the misery of the occasion (Ezra 10:9).