By: REV. DR. ISAIAH ROBINSON, JR.
Scriptural text: JEREMIAH 38: 7-13
KEY VERSE: The king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and rake up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he die. (Jeremiah 38:10, KJV)
INTRODUCTION: Throughout his forty-year ministry, Jeremiah delivered God’s message of judgment to the people of Judah. This was not a well-received message for the nation’s leaders, who preferred false assurance of security. King Zedekiah and the leaders in Judah resisted Jeremiah’s message. Some influential officials took drastic action in their efforts to silence Jeremiah. Eventually, they arrested Jeremiah and cast him into a cistern, a. large, deep vessel in the ground that was dug out of the rock and used to store more rainwater for the city, to use during the hot, dry summers. Jeremiah 38:6 notes that there was no water in the cistern, thus Jeremiah sank into the mud in this cold, dark “prison.” The cistern belonged to Malkijah, the king’s son.
The Courage of Compassion (Jeremiah’s Imprisonment) (38:7-9). The officials’ decision to throw Jeremiah into the cistern was both a physical and symbolic act of rejection. They sought to silence Jeremiah and to assert their authority. Jeremiah’s imprisonment was not an indication of his failure; rather, it reflected the spiritual blindness and hard hearts of the officials. It was also a rejection of God’s will. Ebedmelech, whose name means “servant of the king.” This man was a “Cushite,” that is, from the upper Nile region. Also, he was an “eunuch.” Upon hearing of Jeremiah’s imprisonment, he went to the king and appealed for Jeremiah’s release. The Cushite’s role in this event is significant for several reasons. First, as an outsider, both ethnically and socially, his intervention shows that God can work through unexpected people. Though he was a foreigner, he showed more compassion and courage than the officials. Ebedmelech, as a eunuch serving in the royal palace, held a position of responsibility, but was still viewed differently in a culture that valued lineage and family. His willingness to do what was right and just, despite being an outsider, reveals that righteousness transcends ethical and social boundaries. His involvement highlights the biblical theme that God often uses unexpected individuals, regardless of their background, to fulfill His purposes. Ebedmelech confronted King Zedekiah, urging him to take action against the injustices done to Jeremiah. He noted the cruelty the officials who “acted wickedly in all they did.” He emphasized that Jeremiah was in a dire situation and would likely die from hunger. This passage highlights the disparity between the wicked actions of the officials and the righteous compassion demonstrated by Ebedmelech, who recognized injustice and took decisive steps to rectify it. This passage reveals how God uses even the most unlikely individuals to stand up for justice and protect His messenger.
Divine. Providence, Protection, and Faithfulness (38:10-13). King Zedekiah was presented with the dreadful facts, and he acted immediately. Thus, the king gave the order to save the prophet. He commanded Ebedmelech to gather thirty men. To rescue Jeremiah from the depths of the cistern. This is a powerful reminder that God can work through established authority to fulfill His Divine purpose even in life’s most challenging and dire moments. By gathering old rags and worn-out clothing from the palace wardrobe, Ebedmelech, exemplifies that genuine compassion is expressed through thoughtful, deliberate action. Jeremiah was successfully extracted from the pit. While Ebedmelech was an agent of rescue, his actions are presented as part of God’s providence, protection, and faithfulness. This act of rescue is a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His people. The story of Ebedmelech’s courageous intervention to save Jeremiah resonates deeply with the African American experience of advocating for justice in the face of institutional resistance. This account offers important lessons about God’s faithfulness and personal courage, and compassion. Christians must recognize injustice, advocate for the vulnerable, and take concrete actions to assist those in need.