One Voice
“Ebed-Melech went out of the king’s house and spoke to the king, saying: “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is. For there is no more bread in the city.”
He was a foreigner… He was from a different culture. Ebed-Melech was a servant of the king. He was not from the “upper class.”
One day, he heard a commotion. The princes were throwing the prophet Jeremiah into a dungeon, and he was sinking into the mire. No water. No food. It was clear that they wanted Jeremiah to die.
Ebed-Melech saw all this. He had a choice. Remain silent, or do something.
You couldn’t blame him if he didn’t do anything. He could have said, “What do I care? This doesn’t affect me.”
Ebed-Melech had heard the words of Jeremiah, that God was judging the country for their wicked ways. Babylon was going to burn the city of Jerusalem, kill many people and take many people captive.
Perhaps Ebed-Melech feared God and believed the words of Jeremiah.
Either way, he saw the injustice and did something about it.
It took great courage to go to the king. But he did it.
The king told Ebed-Melech to gather 30 men, and pull Jeremiah out of the dungeon.
He collected old rags and made a rope.
“Then Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Please put these old clothes and rags under your armpits, under the ropes.” And Jeremiah did so.”
Jeremiah 38:12
This was hard work. Dirty work, but Ebed-Melech finished the job and rescued Jeremiah from certain death.
God remembered what he did and gave this word to Jeremiah.
“But I will deliver you in that day,” says the LORD, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the LORD.’ ”
Jeremiah 39:17-18
Let’s trust the Lord like Ebed-Melech and make a difference in someone’s life. All it takes is one person.
