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." 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 38:7-10 NIV)
While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: "Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, 'This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.'" (Jeremiah 39:15-18 NIV)
Even as God finally unleashes his wrath on unrepentant Israel and Judah, he has mercy on one for his faithfulness and righteous act. This man who is a foreigner knows God and acts to save Jeremiah. So God saves this man a foreigner even as he shows no favoritism to his chosen people Judah.
In these sometimes dark times in he midst of an unrepentant and ungodly generation God invites us to remain faithful. God invites us to bring light into a dark world. And he will not forget. God I want to be that light and I pray you would encourage me by your hope and the light of others around the world. God I am weak and selfish but I pray you would use me for your good.
Amen
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