Rescued From The Pit
So many people in this country have been affected by the government shutdown and the continuing whiplash of federal policies. Unfortunately, there is no set of coherent policies from our government (and particularly the President) focused on helping people who are suffering in America. In Jeremiah 38:7–13, instead of repenting and coming back to God, officials in Jerusalem attacked the prophet Jeremiah and threw him into a cistern (pit) to starve to death because he refused to stop speaking God’s truth to them about their wicked ways. I pray that whatever pit you find yourself in during this season, God in His faithfulness will send your deliverance. Amen.
But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.” (Jeremiah 38:7–9)
The reaction of Judah’s officials to Jeremiah’s prophetic message (see Jeremiah 38:2-3) about the Babylonian siege and God’s displeasure with Judah’s idolatry and disobedience, was to throw him into a cistern. The cistern was a large deep pit cut into rock and used to collect rainwater in the winter for use during the dry summer. Only a foreigner (Cushite), Ebed-Melek, who was an official in the royal palace, cared enough about Jeremiah to do something to save him. He went to king Zedekiah after hearing that Jeremiah had been thrown into the cistern and left to starve to death. He appealed to the king on Jeremiah’s behalf, and calling out the officials who had done this to Jeremiah, saying they had acted wickedly.
Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” (Jeremiah 38:10)
The king’s response was to tell Ebed-Melek to take 30 men from (possibly soldiers) and rescue Jeremiah from the cistern. This was a reversal of the king’s earlier position that he would not intervene in whatever the evil officials wanted to do to Jeremiah. King Zedekiah once again proved to be a leader who would flip flop and do whatever was politically expedient in the moment.
So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard. (Jeremiah 38:11–13)
Ebed-Melek needed the 30 men in order to pull Jeremiah up out of this deep pit. Jeremiah had sunk down into the mud, so it was more difficult to pull him up from the pit. Additionally, some the 30 men were needed to guard against those evil officials who might try to stop Jeremiah’s rescue. Ultimately Ebed-Melek and these 30 men successfully pulled Jeremiah up out of the mud and muck of the cistern. After being rescued from starvation in the cistern, Jeremiah remained confined to the courtyard of the guard.
With the tacit approval of king Zedekiah, some of Jerusalem’s officials threw Jeremiah in a pit to try and kill him. Jeremiah’s only offense was that he called out the leaders and officials of Judah and told them what God said. Because of their wickedness and evil practices, their lives and the lives of the people of Jerusalem would only be saved by God if they surrendered to the Babylonian army that had laid siege to Jerusalem.
Sometimes God’s people suffer persecution and oppression because those in power want to serve their own purposes. Our current government shutdown is one example. Millions of people are suffering loss of jobs, paychecks and much needed benefits because the senate is entrenched in its positions and has refused to negotiate a budget solution. Unfortunately, our President is leaning into this shutdown to make cuts that hurt even the people who voted for him.
Jeremiah’s rescue reminds us that God is not pleased when His people are mistreated. And He has proven over and over again that He is a deliverer of those who love Him and serve Him. Just as God saved His prophet from dying in a pit, using Ebed-Melek, God is faithful and able to deliver us from the pitfalls in our lives by means and people we didn’t even anticipate. We can trust in His word and His promises to never to leave or forsake us.
So if you find that circumstances in your life have thrown you into a pit, whether because of the government shutdown or any other reason, be encouraged by the people of God whose fortunes He turned around after they were thrown in a pit. Joseph rose to be second in command of Egypt. Daniel was honored by the king and prospered for the rest of his life. And Jeremiah wrote words of hope that still lift Gods people out of despair to look for a brighter future (Jer. 29:11). Yes, keep looking to God, for even in your pit, He is faithful. And He’s still able to rescue you from your pit…. to give you a future!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jer. 29:11
