Discerning Between Public Opinion And God’s Will

Jeremiah 38:1–13
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The princes became angry, because Jeremiah continually counseled surrender to the Babylonians (vv. 1-3). Then the princes said to the king, “Let this man be put to death,"  because he is undermining the morale of the few fighting men we have left (v. 4). They even accused him of being a traitor. The king agreed and told them to do with him whatever they wanted to and he would not stop them (v. 5). So the officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him with ropes into an empty cistern with a thick layer of mud at the bottom (v. 6). This was the low point in Jeremiah’s career! Down in the mud and gloom of that damp, dark cistern, with no food and no water, no adequate clothing, he was covered over and left alone to die. But God had not forgotten his prophet.

Jeremiah thought it was all over for him, but God had in the court of the king an Ethiopian eunuch, a black servant, whose name is given here as Ebed-melech (v. 7). God sent him to seek deliverance for Jeremiah (vv. 8-9). He went before the king, and said, “My lord the king, these men have done evil by casting Jeremiah into the cistern; and he will die.” Then the king commanded Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian, “Take three men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies” (v. 10). So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the king’s storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which they let down to Jeremiah in the cistern on a rope (v. 11). Then Ebed-melech said to Jeremiah, “Put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes (v. 12).” Then they drew Jeremiah from  the cistern where he spent the rest of his time in the court of the guard, until Jerusalem was taken (v.. 13).

Application

This is an illustration of how foolish I can be if I think that being faithful to the ministry God has given to me will guarantee that I will be delivered from all trials. Here was a man who was faithful to do what God had said, but God allowed him to be put into the cistern.