Just this last week at school (principal at K-5 building) I had an opportunity to talk with some students and their families about the many decisions they have the opportunity to make daily. When talking to these students and their families I referred to 1 or more of Paul’s characteristics of the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5. That in acting out of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control there are many more chances to experience joy. Just like these children’s decisions we equally get to make daily choices. Often our decisions are based on our own self-serving attitude, and at times they can come from pressures of the world or others. Prayerfully, our decisions can be given to God and model Godly obedience.
Today, in Jeremiah 38 there are a few decisions being made by multiple people. Each of these decisions can fall into one of the above categories. Let’s look at who they were and where their faith was.
Princes and King – Even though just a chapter earlier, (37:21) King Zedekiah was listening to Jeremiah, now the king had the attention of these princes. (38:4-5) In these verses the king had told them he didn’t have any control of Jeremiah, that they could do what they will. The princes were listening to the voices of the people of Judah, believing that the words from Jeremiah were weakening their armies. The princes were eventually given the ok by the king to put Jeremiah into a cistern to die. People pleasers.
Ebed-melech the Ethiopian – God uses us in many ways. Ebed-melech showed his faith in various forms here. First in going to speak with the king about saving Jeremiah. Then convincing his friends to help him pull out Jeremiah. He even thought to get extra padding for the ropes to hurting Jeremiah. He feared God more than the people. (Later after Jerusalem fell captive to the Babylonians Ebed-Melech received a very encouraging word of hope through Jeremiah’s prophecy Jeremiah 39:15-18) .
“Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Take thirty men from here under your authority and bring up Jeremiah the prophet from the cistern before he dies.’ So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went into the king’s palace to a place beneath the storeroom and took from there worn-out clothes and worn-out rags and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, ‘Now put these worn-out clothes and rags under your armpits under the ropes’; and Jeremiah did so. So they pulled Jeremiah up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, and Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guardhouse” (Jeremiah 38:10-13).
My message to the kids this last week and often is you can go along with the crowd or do what is right. In this situation Ebed spoke up for God. When have you stood up for what is right even when it was risky? What helps you to serve God when people around you are not doing so, and even when they criticize or threaten you? When another person is treated wrongly do we speak up and show love and kindness? Maybe even pull them out of the cistern they are currently in? Have you ever been in the trenches? Thank God for the times He sends an “Embed-melech” your way.
Dear God, We are so grateful for the prophet Jeremiah and his faithfulness. For those like Ebed-melech and the rope holders who’ve helped pull us out of difficult situations. Those who have given us an uplifting message, interceded in prayer on our behalf, and provided their time and expertise to help us in our dilemma. Help us to be a rope holder and offer a word of encouragement, be a listening ear, and extend tender compassion and mercy to one in need. Help us to obey and be Your hand extended to those in need. Amen.