"Because You Trusted Me"

Scripture Passage

Jeremiah 39:11-18; Jeremiah 40:1-6; 2 Kings 25:8-21; Jeremiah 52:12-27; 2 Chronicles 36:15-21; Lamentations 1:1-22

Scripture Focus

“Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward.” (Jeremiah 39:18 NLT)

Observation

I’m not sure I always appreciate well the kind of perilous circumstances under which Jeremiah lived and ministered. Unthinkingly, I sort of imagine Jeremiah wandering about in a robe and beard, uttering oracles from God like the guy who wears a sandwich board announcing, “The End Is Near!”

But the truth is, there’s much more going on here than that. Jeremiah is actually a political prisoner who has suffered significant persecution because of his anti-government rhetoric. He’s been flogged, beaten, and imprisoned. And now the enemy army, of whom he’s spoken positively, has taken Jerusalem!

Not only is Jeremiah’s status “iffy”—so is that of his compatriot, Ebed-melech the Ethiopian. Remember Ebed? He’s the guy who pleaded with Zedekiah for Jeremiah’s rescue from the "empty-but-muddy" cistern, and thoughtfully sent rags down on a rope so that Jeremiah’s rescue didn’t do more harm than good. Ebed-melech, then, has served as an official under Zedekiah, but also sided with those who’ve suggested surrender to the Babylonians (i.e., Jeremiah). What’s to come of Ebed-melech now that the Babylonian’s have taken the city? Can you imagine how Ebed-melech must have feared for his own life? But here’s God’s promise to Ebed-melech through his prophet Jeremiah:

“Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward.” (Jeremiah 39:18 NLT)

There’s something about that I really like. Ebed-melech doesn’t have the “standing” Jeremiah seems to have. He’s likely of no particular value to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, though he’s stood with the King’s supporter, Jeremiah. He is of questionable value to Zedekiah—and may even be perceived as Zedekiah’s enemy, given his support of Jeremiah. What’s to come of Ebed-melech, the Nobody? Who will stand for one who did right at the risk of his own life—specifically, one who expressed tangible compassion for another human being who’d suffered as a result of expressing his own politically unpopular conviction?

God would. God would stand for Ebed-melech. “Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward.” (Jeremiah 39:18 NLT)

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