Week 35
Jeremiah 39:17-18 “I will deliver you on that day,’ declares the Lord, ‘and you will not be given into the hand of the men whom you dread. For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as a prize of war, because you trusted in Me,’ declares the Lord.”
This beautiful promise is made by God to a simple and humble man named Ebedmelech. Ebedmelech was unremarkable in many ways, but in one way he was extraordinary – he stood up for the Lord’s prophet in a moment of great danger.
The story of Ebedmelech may be read in Jeremiah 38-39. During the days of Jeremiah the prophet, God warned repeatedly His sinning people that judgment was coming. Through the prophecies of Jeremiah God admonished His people to repent and return to the Lord, but they disregarded Jeremiah’s sermons, but worse – they disregarded God! They hardened their hearts and stiffened their resolve to refuse to listen to their God and His warnings. And so, judgment must come!
The enemies of God were the enemies of Jeremiah, the man of God preaching the Word of God. So, Jeremiah’s enemies convinced the king to throw Jeremiah in a cistern where he would die without provision and shelter. And thus, they did. But Ebedmelech saw this wretched treatment of Jeremiah, and Ebedmelech determined to do what he could to help save Jeremiah from certain death. And so Ebedmelech went to the king asking for the authority to get Jeremiah out of the cistern. He did this at the risk of his own life. Ebedmelech could have ended up in the cistern with Jeremiah, sharing his fate. But God blessed him with the king’s favor, and he was granted the means by which to get Jeremiah to safety.
Because of this God promises Ebedmelech that when the toppling of Jerusalem comes by Babylonian means, God would provide for Ebedmelech. God promises him safety and deliverance. God will rescue Ebedmelech from the coming judgment because he did what was right, trusting in the Lord.
Oh, dear Christian friend, can we not in our day of challenge and danger rise up and do something that is right and good? Can we not swallow our fear to stand with the Lord and His church in these days of opposition and antagonism? One of our hymns states, “Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.” If we would have the Lord’s promise, we must first stand with the Lord in danger. It is only when we suffer with Christ that we will reign with Christ (2 Timothy 2:12). Christians hiding in the shadows is a pitiful thing. Jesus said that we should let our light shine for all to see (Matthew 5:16). May the Lord give us courage to speak up for Jesus and take a stand for Him in our moment of history. And then, may His promise be our hope and comfort.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me not to cower in fear, but give me courage and faith to stand for You, the gospel, and for Jesus Christ in this evil day. Amen.
