Ezra 10:25-29: a reflection

This list names, one by one, the people who took concrete, costly action to set right something that had gone wrong in their lives, a reminder that real repentance shows itself in action, not merely in feeling. Of Israel, the list begins, and then names family after family, person after person, each one who stepped forward to put right what had gone wrong. It was not enough for these people merely to feel sorry for what had gone amiss; the matter required action, a concrete and costly setting-right, and each of them is named as one who took that action. Their repentance was not mere regret, but a real turning that showed itself in concrete steps. This shows that real repentance shows itself in concrete action, not merely in feeling. Real repentance shows itself in concrete action, not merely feeling. It is not enough to feel sorry; repentance takes action to set things right. Genuine turning shows itself in concrete, sometimes costly, steps. Each who acted is named; repentance is more than regret.

Notice what this list of names represents. These were people who did not merely feel regret over what had gone wrong, but took concrete action to set it right, and each is named as one who did so. Their repentance was not confined to feeling sorry; it moved to action, to a real and costly setting-right of what had gone amiss. This reflects a truth about the nature of real repentance. It is possible to feel sorry for what we have done wrong, to regret it, to be troubled by it, and yet to stop there, never taking any concrete action to change or to set things right. But real repentance is more than feeling; it shows itself in action, in concrete steps to turn from what was wrong and to set right what can be set right, however costly. Regret that never moves to action is not yet repentance; genuine turning shows itself in what we actually do. These people are remembered not merely for feeling sorry, but for taking the concrete steps that real repentance required. We do well to let our repentance be real, showing itself not merely in feeling sorry but in concrete action to turn from what is wrong and set right what we can. Let your repentance show itself in concrete action, not merely in feeling sorry. It is not enough to regret; real turning takes concrete, sometimes costly, steps. Genuine repentance moves from feeling to action. Do not stop at regret; act to set right what has gone wrong.

That is worth taking to heart, for real repentance shows itself in concrete action, not merely in feeling, and we do well to let our turning be real, as these people took concrete steps to set right what had gone wrong. We can feel sorry for what we have done and stop there, never acting; but these people are named for taking the concrete, costly steps that real repentance required. Repentance acts. Do not stop at feeling sorry; let your repentance show itself in concrete action to turn from what is wrong and set right what you can. Let your repentance be real, showing itself not merely in feeling sorry but in concrete action to turn from what is wrong and set right what you can, as this list names one by one the people who took concrete, costly action to set right something that had gone wrong in their lives, a reminder that real repentance shows itself in action not merely feeling, naming family after family and person after person who stepped forward to put right what had gone wrong; for it was not enough for these people merely to feel sorry, since the matter required action, a concrete and costly setting-right, and each is named as one who took that action, their repentance not mere regret but a real turning that showed itself in concrete steps, which reflects a truth about the nature of real repentance, that it is possible to feel sorry for what we have done wrong and regret it and be troubled by it yet stop there and never take any concrete action to change or set things right, but real repentance is more than feeling and shows itself in action, in concrete steps to turn from what was wrong and set right what can be set right however costly, since regret that never moves to action is not yet repentance and genuine turning shows itself in what we actually do, so that these people are remembered not merely for feeling sorry but for taking the concrete steps real repentance required, and we do well to let our repentance be real.