Ezra 2:62

These sought their register.

The importance of a clear spiritual pedigree

I. The doubtful pedigree amongst the people is an illustration of uncertainty as to our spiritual state.

1. This uncertainty may consist with association with the people of God (Ezra 2:59).

2. This uncertainty must involve spiritual loss.

(1) Of spiritual joy.

(2) Of spiritual usefulness.

Lacking Christian assurance our testimony for Christ would be likely to be deficient in clearness and attractiveness, in fervour and force; it would especially fail to set forth the joyful character of true religion.

II. The doubtful pedigree amongst the priests is an illustration of uncertainty as to our ministerial calling and condition.

1. A ministerial pedigree may be lost by reason of worldliness.

2. The loss of ministerial pedigree involves a corresponding loss of ministerial power and reward.

3. The final decision as to the standing of a minister of uncertain pedigree must be given by God Himself (Ezra 2:63). (William Jones.)

Melancholy records

Here is the picture of men seeking a register, and finding nothing in it; looking up old family papers, and their names are not found in the tender record. A man not known at home! He may have been born there, and have lived a good many years of his early life there; but to-day he has no record on the hearthstone, no place at the table, no portion in the family memory: it would be a breach of courtesy to name his name. Something must have happened. There is an ineffable sadness about this: all nature seems to be violated; instincts have been rooted out; natural affection seems to have been burned down and utterly destroyed. Consider the tremendous possibility of outliving one’s natural rights, or forfeiting birthright, inheritance, paternal blessing, all the wealth of home’s true love. Talk of falling from grace! What is this but an apostasy from the best grace--a fall from childhood’s trust, the wilful obliteration of the name from the scroll whose meaning is nothing but love? Here is a child who is not named in the will. Consider what you have done. How infinite in detestation must have been the character which resulted in this issue! Take more general ground, and the principle still applies. Here is a man who is unknown in the community; his name may be written upon certain official papers, but it is not inscribed on the scroll of the heart, on the memory of gratitude; it is not to be found anywhere put up as a thing most prized and loved. He is but a figure in the community, but a tax-payer, but an occupier of a house; he is not a living presence in any sense of beneficence. When he is buried no one will miss him in the heart. His name is not written upon the register of trust, affection, or benevolent interest. Seeing that all these things are possible, there must be a reason for them: what is it? It is always a moral reason, where it touches any conception of general justice. At the last shall we go to the book of life and not find our names there? The answer is in our own lives. Sad to turn away from the record, saying, “My name is not there!” But, blessed be God, the humblest, least, vilest may, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, the whole mystery of the priesthood of Christ, have their names written in heaven. (J. Parker, D. D)