Ebed-Melech

“For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.” - Jeremiah 39v18



Ebed-Melech is one of those rare Bible characters whom we learn only a little about, but makes a great impression. We first read of Ebed-Melech when he has the courage to go to the king to beg for Jeremiah’s release from the muck pit. He then leads a team of thirty men to gather rags and haul Jeremiah out of the pit.


Finally, as Jerusalem faced destruction, Ebed-Melech was afraid. Jerusalem fell and the Babylonians were wrecking havoc on the city, but God had a message for this man from Ethiopia. Ebed-Melech not only trusted God, but he showed his faith by acting to help Jeremiah. In the midst of all this trouble, here was a man, a foreigner and outsider, who had chosen to trust in God.


What was God’s message? Thought he city was going to be destroyed God chose to protect him. In the midst of a day of wrath, God showed His mercy on an individual. God cares about people, individual people. Praise God for the example of Ebed-Melech, who had faith in God when the whole nation had turned against Him.