Jeremiah 38:7-13 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon… Here we see tenderness and compassion. There is much in doing a kind action in a kind way. A charity may be so given as to wound the recipient; and a good deed, accompanied by kind words, is like a gem set in pure gold. Let us ever be careful that when we try to help others, we do our task with tenderness to the feelings and prejudices of those we would aid. But the events of old times were full of foreshadowings of the great central fact of the world's redemption. 1. In Ebed-melech, therefore, we may behold a type of One who comes forth from the palace of the Great King to loose the captive's chains. Our Saviour stoops down to help us. The cords of His love and compassion lift us up, and restore us to that "service which is perfect liberty." 2. But again, in this narrative there is a very good illustration of the too often forgotten truth that in man's redemption he has his own part to do. If it was Ebed-melech who let down the cords, yet Jeremiah had to fix them under his arms to such a position that he might safely be drawn up. "Work out your own salvation" is the plain direction of the apostle. 3. Again, there seems to be a lesson of instruction in this point — that the rags and castaway fragments of garments were made useful in the way of making easier the deliverance of Jeremiah, things which were worthless in themselves used for a good and excellent purpose. So many things, at which men scoff, saying, "How can they save souls?" are, by God's blessing, made of use. 4. Lastly, let us take Ebed-melech for an example. Can we not strive to rescue some soul! Cannot we, like the thirty servants of the king, aid in letting down the cords, or protect those who are doing so? We may at least lower down the cords of prayer and entreaty. (W. Hardman, LL. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin; |
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