Ebedmelech Part 3

IV. JER 38:7-13. A. Ebedmelech the Ethiopian went in unto Zedekiah to intercede for Jeremiah. Given the abhorrent character of Zedekiah (EZE 21:25), it might be said that Ebedmelech went boldly unto the throne of disgrace. His compassion was love in deed and in truth. 1JO 3:17-18. B. The fact that he may have been putting himself at risk did not deter him from trying to help the man of God. He joined the ranks of the heroes of faith by his actions. HEB 11:27. C. Ebedmelech spoke out on behalf of a wrongly condemned person who could not speak for himself. c/w PRO 31:8. 1. His efforts accord with what has been called, “The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates” which affirms that those in lesser positions of magistracy should interpose for someone who is being wrongly accused or condemned by official power. c/w 1SAM 14:42-45. 2. By such, a jury has power to pass judgment on not only the facts of a case at law, but even on the law itself if it be unjust (jury nullification). Framing mischief by law does not make moral the mischief. PSA 94:20-21. 3. This confirms that no earthly authority is absolute and must be always obeyed. D. It would have been easy for him to pretend ignorance of Jeremiah's condition, but God takes note of these things. PRO 24:11-12. E. Surprisingly, the king hearkened to Ebedmelech, who then saw to the extraction of Jeremiah by measly means. vs. 10-13; PRO 21:1. 1. Salvation does not require finery. MAT 11:8-11 c/w 1CO 1:27-29. 2. Jeremiah was let down by unprotected cords (v. 6) but mercifully drawn out by protected cords. a. God’s mercies are tender mercies. PSA 51:1; 69:16. b. Thus we should relate to brethren. EPH 4:32. 3. God heard Jeremiah’s prayer. LAM 3:55-58. 4. Jeremiah needed to take hold of the cords that his intercessor cast down to him to be delivered. a. How many times has our Intercessor found us in a pit of our own making, thrown us a line, but we have not perceived it or refused to grasp it? b. We must avail ourselves of the means for deliverance from our sin before it takes us (ROM 13:14; 2TI 2:22), and if it takes us. JOB 42:6; 34:31-32.

V. JER 38:14-28. A. Jeremiah negotiated with Zedekiah for his life and struck a good deal. v. 16. B. Zedekiah was a base man put in high power yet he was moved to protect Jeremiah. 1. A Roman centurion took special care for Paul. ACT 27:3, 42-43. 2. Do not underestimate the power of a good life and testimony in another man’s conscience. 2CO 5:11.

VI. JER 39:1-14. A. Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians as Jeremiah had prophesied. B. Zedekiah met his fate as prophesied. vs. 6-7 c/w JER 34:3; EZE 12:13. C. Sometimes telling the truth, nothing but the truth yet not the whole truth may be needful (vs. 24-27 c/w JER 37:20). Is a man bound to disclose everything to a murderer? c/w EXO 1:18-20.

VII. JER 39:15-18. A. God remembered Ebedmelech for his good work. c/w MAT 10:41-42. B. He was not ashamed of Jeremiah’s pit and received mercy. c/w 2TI 1:16-18. C. God will not forget even labors of love towards everyday saints. HEB 6:10. D. Ebedmelech’s life was given him for a prey because he trusted in God. v. 18 c/w LUK 21:17-22. E. But he could not have what the Ethiopian eunuch of ACT 8:35-40 was given: a place in God’s house. c/w ISA 56:3-5. 1. The Old Covenant forbade him access. DEU 23:1. 2. But he had the honor of interposing for the life of the only prophet to whom was revealed the coming new covenant. JER 31:31-34. 3. Thus he was in a very special way as his name meant: servant of the king. 4. We ought to do the best we can for God when we can’t have the best. PSA 84:10.