Devotional Tuesday: God Remembers
A lesson from the Obed-Melek
The past couple years I have read through the prophets sometime before summer. Right now, I am currently in Jeremiah…
I read this story this week:
They turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people.
6 So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.
7 But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite, an official p in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, 8 Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, 9 “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.”
10 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 38:6–10.
15 While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: 16 “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. 17 But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. 18 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 39:14–18
Read the chapters 36-40 for the bigger story…
Observations
First, Obed-Melek is not a Jew. He was a cushite. He was from Africa. Many of our translations today call him an Ethiopian. Similar to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 that is baptized by Philip and becomes the first convert outside Judea and Samaria, God finds righteousness in the people of Ethiopia.
Second, God does not forget the righteous. Both Jeremiah and Ebed-Melek are remembered by God for their faithfulness. God does not forget those who remain committed to living in righteousness.
Third, those in power are often the most susceptible to failing to hear God’s voice.
Interpretations
The story of Obed-Melek and Jeremiah show this strong, but simple truth of God: those who choose righteousness will not be forgotten by God. Even though they may experience suffering or oppression, the righteous experience the protection and blessing of God when others will find judgement.
When reading the Bible and reflecting on our lives, we must not equate worldly success or welfare for security or peace. Zedekiah, the king, had the highest status and protection his people could afford. Yet, when Babylon came to conquer them, they did not return to God or heed his word. Worldly success is not going to last. Either sometime before death or at death, all things that bring peace to the world will end. Only God and his blessing ensure we find true peace.
Life application
Like Obed-Melek, we must fear God enough to do what is right. Obed-Melek knew that he must honor the Lord by honoring his prophet. When the whole group of leaders turned away from Jeremiah and YHWH, he refused to. He helped his leader see the importance of doing what was right.
Likewise, we must do what is right. We must remember that God will not forget the small things we do in order to live like he has called us to.
Friend, God will not forget you if you trust him. He will not abandon you if you follow his ways.
I heard many years ago a saying that has been close to my heart ever since. [My aunt even painted a canvas with the saying on it when I graduated high school.]
“Trials come and trials go, but the Lord Almighty takes care of his own.”
Like Jeremiah and Obed-Melek, may we trust God and walk in his ways.