"Who...me?" "Yes, YOU!"

Last time I kicked off a brand new blog series on The 5 Senses of God, starting with His eyes and His “seeing” with those wondrous eyes of His.  The verse I centered that piece around was 2 Chronicles 16:9:

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him.”

Yesterday morning, as I opened up Charles Spurgeon’s Chequebook of the Bank of Faith to his reading for July 5, it began with this key verse:

“But I will deliver thee in that day,

saith the LORD, and thou shalt not be given

into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.” 

- Jeremiah 39:16

Immediately I had to go find that verse in the Bible to read the context and why the reference to “Ebed-Melech,” the Ethiopian eunuch Spurgeon was centering his brief text around. 

Jeremiah chapters 38-39 put us right at the final wave of the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem in the year 586 BC.  Let’s back up just a bit to set the stage. 

SETTING THE STAGE

God had set apart the people of Israel for Himself; His chosen and beloved.  He did this through Abraham, his son Isaac, then Jacob and Jacob’s twelve sons.  Those twelve sons became the 12 Tribes of Israel.  Around 1000 BC – after the reigns of King David and King Solomon -  infighting led them to be split into two distinctive groups; “Israel” (the ten northern tribes) and “Judah” (the two southern tribes).  This can be a bit confusing:  when we talk about “Israel” today we are talking about all of Israel.  When Israel is talked about throughout scripture, it generally means all of Israel.  However, in the prophetic books of the Old Testament there are specific prophets to the 10 northern tribes (“Israel”) and specific prophets to the 2 southern tribes (“Judah”). 

Okay.  With that in mind, God had continually warned the 10 northern tribes regarding their sin, refusal to repent, turn around, and go back to living in a loving, obedient relationship with Him.  When you read the prophetical books of Amos and Hosea, God was using those prophets to speak specifically to the 10 northern tribes.  When you read of the prophets Elijah and Elisha in 1&2 Kings, they were prophesying to the 10 northern tribes. 

What were the things they were doing that God was warning them about?  It’s important to take a look at this list, as you will easily see that God was not upset about trivial matters!

·       Idolatry & Syncretism

o   From the split of the  kingdom after the reign of King Solomon, under King Jeroboam I, they set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan to keep people from going to Jerusalem to worship.

o   Mixed Yahweh worship with Baal and Asherah cults (syncretism).

o   Baal worship reached its worst under Ahab & Jezebel (with child sacrifice and fertility rituals).

·       Spiritual Adultery (so hurtful to God – think of Him as a wronged spouse)

o   Hosea especially uses the image of Israel as an unfaithful wife.

o   Chasing after other gods and alliances with pagan nations.

·       Corrupt Leadership & False Prophets

o   Kings encouraged idolatry to maintain political power.

o   Prophets for hire spoke lies of “peace.”

·       Social Injustice & Oppression of the Poor

o   Amos especially rebukes the wealthy for trampling the poor, taking bribes, perverting justice in the courts.

o   “You sell the righteous for silver…” (Amos 2:6).

·       Empty Ritualism

o   Religious feasts and sacrifices continued — but God says, “I hate, I despise your feasts…” because there was no true heart for Him (Amos 5:21–24).

Finally, with heavy heart, after giving them ample time and opportunity to turn from their wicked ways and not responding, God uses the barbaric country of Assyria to take them into captivity.  This happened in the year 721 BC. 

“Israel” judged; now on to the two Southern Tribes – “Judah”

Jeremiah, the prophet we find in the book named for him, is a prophet to the two southern tribes, known as “Judah,” as were Isaiah, Micah, Joel, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.  (All but Ezekiel and Daniel prophesized prior to the Babylonian captivity, while Ezekiel and Daniel prophesized during the 70-year Babylonian captivity.)

Judah’s sins were basically the same as those of Israel, and, in short:

“The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against His people and there was no remedy.”— 2 Chronicles 36:15–16

So, Judah is taken into captivity under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  This happens in three waves:

·       605 BC when Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taken 

·       597 BC when King Jehoiachin and Ezekiel were taken

·       586 BC when the final siege occurred, along with the destruction of the temple… AND…

THAT BRINGS US STRAIGHT TO WHERE WE ARE IN THIS STORY!

After King Jehoiachin was taken captive in the second wave of deportation from Jerusalem to Babylon, King Zedekiah takes over.  Jeremiah continues to prophesy devastating judgement on the two tribes of Judah unless they repent and turn from their wicked ways. 

One of King Zedekiah’s servants is a man by the name of Ebed-melech.  Ebed-melech is introduced into the story as “Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian, a eunuch.”  (Jeremiah 38:7)  Just before we meet him, as the chapter opens, we are privy to a very uncomfortable exchange between prophet Jeremiah and four prominent movers and shakers in the king’s palace.  At this point, the people have pushed past the point of being able to turn things around by repentance, but Jeremiah says that those who go willingly as captives to Babylon will at least have their “lives as a booty” and not die.  However, “This city will certainly be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.” 

The movers and shakers are furious with Jeremiah, as they want the armies to fight against the invaders and do not want the people to be “discouraged” by a message of sure defeat.  They convince cowardly King Zedekiah to throw Jeremiah into the cistern of an empty well to die. 

BUT HERE IS WHERE THE “WHO, ME?” “YES, YOU!” COMES IN!

Ebed-melech overhears the entire exchange, and he has the courage to speak with the king:

“My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have cast into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.” (v. 9)

The king commands Ebed-melech to take thirty of the men who serve under him to go and fetch Jeremiah from the cistern.  Ebed-melech tells them to take rags and ropes and fashion them in such a way so as to be able to hoist Jeremiah out of the empty well.  And so, they do. 

Jeremiah then goes in before the king.  King Zedekiah makes Jeremiah tell him in secret what message the LORD has for him, personally.  Jeremiah tells him that the LORD says if he gives up willingly and surrenders to the invading king of Babylon, his life will be spared, and the city will not be burned, though the captivity will still take place.  Unfortunately, Zedekiah does not have enough faith in the LORD and does not do that!  So, instead, he is taken captive, appears before King Nebuchadnezzar, who summarily has his family members killed in front of him, then has his eyes put out  (I guess so the last thing he saw was the slaughter of his family), bound, and taken in chains to Babylon. 

“The Chaldeans [Babylonians] also burned with fire the king’s palace and the houses of the people who remained, and they broke down the walls of Jerusalem.”  (39:8)

GOD STILL HAS MERCY

He has mercy on:

·       The poorest of the poor, whom the captain of the bodyguard – Nebuzaradan –  allows to stay in the land of Judah and care for themselves with what remained of the vineyards and fields. 

·       Jeremiah – after Ebed-melech rescues him from the well and he has the conversation with King Zedekiah, King Z. remands him to the custody of the guardhouse.  King Nebuchadnezzar, then, the conquering king, sends word to the captain of the guardhouse – “Take him and look after him, and do nothing harmful to him, but rather deal with him just as he tells you.”  So they took Jeremiah from the guardhouse and placed him in the care of one Gedaliah, who takes him home, and he, too, stays among the people in the land of Judah.

·       Finally, Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian eunuch, who rescued Jeremiah from the well! 

The Eyes of the LORD – always on the MOVE – No exception here!

The Eyes of the LORD had been running to and fro throughout the whole earth and “found” faithful Ebed-melech serving King Zedekiah in the palace in Jerusalem at a critical time in history.  NOT a mover and a shaker within the palace government, but as his name would have it, a mere “Servant of The King.” 

The LORD then strengthened him to have the courage to speak to King Zedekiah about the plight of Jeremiah, leading to Jeremiah’s rescue.  It is while Jeremiah is in the safe custody of the guardhouse that the one and only God – the Creator of the universe! – speaks to Jeremiah and says:

Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying,

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to bring my words on this city for disaster and not for prosperity; and they will take place before you on that day.  But I will deliver you on that day,’ declares the LORD, ‘and you will not be given into the hand of the men whom you dread.

For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword;

but you will have your own life as booty,

because you have trusted in me,’ declares the LORD.” 

Ebed-melech:  “Who… me?”

Almighty God:  “Yes, YOU!”

WOW!  MY KEY TAKEWAYS

·       Ebed-melech was an unlikely hero

o   He wasn’t an Israelite – he was a “stranger” or “foreigner” among them, but like Rahab the harlot, Ruth the Moabitess, Naaman, and the widow of Zarephath, he was used strategically in what God was doing on the earth in a given moment of time. 

o   He isn’t a “Bible character” whose name many would recognize.  Did you?  I didn’t.  I certainly knew the story of Jeremiah being rescued from the cistern, but I think I’ve just glossed over Ebed-melech until now.  Those of us who know scripture easily recognize these other names – Ruth, Rahab, Naaman, the widow of Zarephath – but Ebed-melech?

·       God has a loving and intelligent sense of humor – the name Ebed-melech means “Servant of the King.”  Ebed-melech’s name indicated his station in life when he was taken into the service of the king, through whatever circumstance made that happen – tribute, war, trade, or purchase –  that brought him from his native Cush to Jerusalem, and likely as a child.   But GOD was smiling when he was born and when he was named, knowing that Ebed-melech would one day prove to be a “Servant of the King of Kings!” 

·       That “God’s eyes roam to and fro throughout the earth that He might strongly support those whose hearts are completely devoted to Him" is demonstrated so beautifully here.  Think of it!  He personally speaks to Jeremiah about this one man; this humble man who probably didn’t think God ever thought of him personally.  Was his heart completely devoted to the LORD?  Apparently yes, because this is THE reason the LORD says He is sparing His life.  Again:  “For I will certainly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as booty, because you have trusted in Me.”

DON’T YOU JUST LOVE THIS?

I mean, what it says about God and you and me.  As small and unimportant as our lives might seem, they are not.  Everything about us – from our thoughts to our words to our actions – are not without significance and do not go unnoticed by The KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS! 

That sounds too good to be true, but it isn’t!  And it isn’t just the things we do or say but the true condition of our hearts that He sees.  Did God tell Ebed-melech that He was sparing Him because he had rescued Jeremiah from the cistern?  NO!  He said, “…because you have trusted in Me.”  Ebed-melech’s trust in God gave him courage to act in obedience to God’s prompting, but it was the trust itself that gave God the greatest joy. 

WHAT THIS SAYS TO US

God is God, and He is wonderful.  He created us to be with Him.  He created us so that He could enjoy our company and we could enjoy His.  Sin destroyed that relationship, but He mended it by taking all the punishment on Himself through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.*  Today, His eyes are running to and fro across the vast sea of humanity at all times, taking delight in those of us who have placed our trust in Him, who love Him, and are devoted to Him with all of our hearts.  I am beyond ecstatic to be among those who catch His attention in this way.  I am desperately in need of His strong support, as are we all, and – because of Jesus Christ –  I am more than confident it is mine!

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*Interested in knowing how to enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Say a Salvation Prayer and Receive Jesus Christ Today. Of course, the saying of a prayer is the reflection of a monumental and life-changing heart decision, but this is a good guide. Feel free to contact me with any questions: rebecca.montrone@gmail.com