TRUST AMID THE TRAGEDY

As the capture and destruction of Jerusalem drew near, King Zedekiah and his officials turned some of their fear and frustration toward Jeremiah and his seemingly endless dire warnings. Those who had led the people to this extremity now tried to lay the blame on Jeremiah, and all the more as they saw those warnings becoming reality.

“Then the officials said to the king, ‘This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them’ ” (Jeremiah 38:4). So the king ordered that Jeremiah be thrown into a cistern, where he sank into the mud at the bottom of the empty water reservoir, presumably left there to die. A foreigner by the name of Ebed-Melek, a Cushite or Ethiopian, lobbied the king for Jeremiah’s release and then organized a group of men to lift him out of his muddy tomb.

In the charged political and social environment of the doomed city, this was a courageous and dangerous task for Ebed-Melek to take on.

While most people were focused on their own survival, Ebed-Melek was concerned for Jeremiah. And it was not without a real fear of retribution from the officials who had sought to do away with Jeremiah. Amid the chaos of the capture of the city, Jeremiah was given a special message for his rescuer. Ebed-Melek had acted despite his fear, and ironically, the conquerors of the city would now set him free from those he had feared.

In acting on behalf of Jeremiah, Ebed-Melek demonstrated courage and faithfulness. Now he would be rescued “because you trust in me, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 39:18).