Today’s subject is someone lesser known, and perhaps someone not many could identify in Bible trivia. Yet his story is powerful and we can all learn from his example.
Not long ago, I was reading in the book of Jeremiah and came to a story that I have read dozens of times. But I felt God grabbing my attention with it in a new way this particular evening.
Part of it may have been that I had been spending a few weeks teaching my US History classes about equal rights warriors and my Medieval classes about reformers of the church. The idea of standing up for what is right, had been in the forefront of my conversions for nearing a month at this point, and then I come to this passage in Jeremiah 38.
I would like to introduce you to our main character. No, I am not speaking of Jeremiah. Even though he deserves much attention and credit for his faithfulness, today we are looking at a man in the shadows. His name: Ebed-Melek.
Ebed-Melek’s resume: from a Cushite background; served in the palace of King Zedekiah in the time of Jeremiah the prophet; An Ethiopian eunuch; A foreigner and a servant.
This isn’t the resume of someone who stands out. Not exactly a person many of us would expect to make a huge impact. But we need to remember what God’s word says about the people God often uses.
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ESV
You and I are a testament to that truth. Not many believers are famous. Not many believers are hyper wealthy. Not many believers are breaking world records. But God has chosen each and every one of us for His persons. Today’s story is a great illustration of this concept as well.
“Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah was saying to all the people: “Thus says the Lord: He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live. He shall have his life as a prize of war, and live. Thus says the Lord: This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon and be taken.” Then the officials said to the king, “Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.” King Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you.” So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud. When Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern—the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate— Ebed-melech went from the king’s house and said to the king, “My Lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.” Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Take thirty men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe in the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did so. Then they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.”
Jeremiah 38:1-13 ESV
The story is found in Jeremiah 38:1-13. Let’s check it out. Jeremiah is imprisoned in a cistern filled with mud. The spineless King Zedekiah ordered it done. Jeremiah 38:4-9 suggests there is a real possibility of having to face death. The plot to imprison Jeremiah had been hatched through the maneuverings of some powerful but corrupt government officials who hated Jeremiah’s prophecies as pointed out in (Jeremiah 38:1-5). In steps Ebed-Melech, the righteous man from the shadows.
1. Compassion in Action
Ebed-Melek demonstrated compassion by advocating for Jeremiah’s well-being. Compassion denotes a deep desire to aide someone in need. Not only is there concern for others, true compassion necessitates a response. He had nothing to gain and could have easily have turned a blind eye to what was happening. Jeremiah’s circumstances didn’t concern Ebed-Melek.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8 ESV
Ebed-Melek’s story is a prime example of someone who pursues justice and loves kindness. When the situation looked precarious for Jeremiah, Ebed-Melek stepped in; and what a difference it made. He decided that he would not sit back and watch the prophet’s demise. Instead, he courageously went on a dangerous mission to the king to intercede for Jeremiah’s life in (Jeremiah 38:7-9).
2. Courage in Adversity
What does Jesus say the greatest act of love is? To lay down our lives for our brothers. Ebed-Melek was willing to do just that.
Ebed-Melek exercised great courage in approaching King Zedekiah to plead for Jeremiah’s rescue from the cistern. Not only was his actions challenging the King’s orders, but he was also standing up against the powerful elite who had advocated for the imprisonment of Jeremiah.
Such a mission could have had serious consequences for Ebed-Melek, considering that powerful men had been behind the plot. However, the king responded favorably to his request and gave Ebed-Melek permission to release Jeremiah from the cistern. He was also given the protection of a 30-man security contingent for the mission (Jeremiah 38:10).
Stories like this are abundant in the Bible. God standing with Moses and Aaron against the Pharaoh. God’s protection of Noah and his family. God rewarding Rahab for risking her life in protecting the spies. Esther in approaching the King to ask for the salvation of her people. Ebed-Melek is in very good company. Standing up for others is often going to come with a risk, one in which God honors.
Not only did Ebed-Melek get Jeremiah released, but he also felt Jeremiah’s pain. He knew that Jeremiah’s armpits would have been wounded when he was let down by ropes into the cistern. He also realized that those same wounds would be aggravated when Jeremiah was being pulled out of the cistern with ropes. So, what did he do?
The Scripture says that Ebed-Melek first went to a room under the treasury where he could get some rags and worn-out clothes (Jeremiah 38:11). Then, he let down the ropes with the rags, advising Jeremiah to put the rags and worn-out clothes under his arms to pad the ropes, so that his body would not get injured further (Jeremiah 38:12-13).
“Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully.” Zig Ziglar
3. Faithfulness Rewarded
Ebed-Melek’s faithfulness to God’s servant led to his own deliverance and blessing. God has an amazing track record of honoring those who stand up for righteousness and compassion.
Not too long after, Jeremiah was hauled out of the cistern to safety and subsequently continued his powerful ministry to the nation. As a result of what he did for Jeremiah, God prophetically assured Ebed-Melek of his unfailing protection in the tumultuous days ahead (Jeremiah 39:15-18).
“The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: “Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.'””
Jeremiah 39:15-18 ESV
God never forgets his children, nor does he forget what we do for him (Isaiah 49:15).
Ebed-Melek’s name means “servant of the king”. His story is a testament of what that looks like. You and I are servants of the King of Kings. Servants who should be motivated by compassion, willing to stand up for what is right, no matter the risk, because we are called for love, and to love extravagantly.
Not only should we look to examples like these, but first and foremost, we look to the King we serve. The Word become flesh, the Alpha and Omega, the One through Whom all things were created. That same King, who took our guilt upon Himself. That King, who bore a cross of our shame. That King, who stood in the gap for broken sinful people like you and me. Because He look upon us, full of compassion. And the compassion of Jesus empowered Him to take all the mocking and torture. To challenge the misguided establishment of not only Rome, but the religious elites. To welcome the outcasts and the hurting. To forgive the most destitute in society that everyone else had given up on. To hang on a cross, and yet speak love and forgiveness on behalf of those who put him there. He is, and always will be, our greatest example of love and compassion.
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:1-11 ESV
Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.