Post by Lee on Aug 18, 2014 2:19:23 GMT
“I WILL surely save thee.” What a delightful message this was to Ebedmelech, who put his trust in God! All that a man hath will he give for his life, and surely this minister of the obstinate Zedekiah took a great risk in pleading for Jeremiah. For though the king does not appear to have directly persecuted Jeremiah, he most certainly disregarded his messages, sent by the God of Israel, from whom he held his crown.
Ebed-melech, however, did believe them, or he would not have gone boldly to Zedekiah as he did. “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet.” So to go to such a king at such a time, and with such a message, cannot have been without risk. Of the “profane wicked prince” at this time it is written that “he stiffened his neck” and “hardened his heart.” Also the priests and the people, copying the court, “mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and misused His prophets.” What then? “There was no remedy” (1 Chron. 36:13–16).
We will consider Ebed-melech rather more closely. He must have been a man of determined faith, this “stranger within the gates,” or he would not have troubled himself with such a minute interest in Jeremiah’s fate. “He is like to die for hunger,” he said. His faith is verified in the first sentence of the special message sent from God. “Behold I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good,—they shall be accomplished before thee.” Thus he was to see first that the divine words would come true; then follows the blessing to himself. “Thy life shall be given thee for a prey because thou hast put thy trust in Me.” He put himself on the side of the suffering Jeremiah, who was one of the mocked, despised, and misused. This Cushite stranger had to take the lead (O Israel!) in liberating one of Israel’s prophets. “These men have done evil,” he notifies the king, reminding us of the faithful Obadiah in Jezebel’s time. At this time of the world’s history we are not favoured with any special message for any deed committed. Our trust can now only be fostered by reading what is written concerning these Bible times, and pondering well the Promiser, the promises, and the promised.
“Whether losing, whether winning, Trust in God and do the right.”
The world has grown much older since the stirring events recorded in the prophets. Many generations have figured on the map of history, beginning with the toddlers passing on to youth, then into life’s rush, ending with the hush which comes to all. At present we are on this way in various stages, some young and eager (let them trust), many older and more matured (let them still trust). With the cycle of years times have changed. We have now no literal Jeremiahs to draw out of literal pits, but many equivalents. Else why do brethren, after a week of steady toil, spend their rest-day “in journeyings oft,” to invite others to take God at his word? Or why do faithful sisters undertake other works, perhaps less prominent, but quite as arduous? Is it not because both have faith and trust?
We are not told how the Ethiopian was saved — but saved he would be. Jeremiah was taken into Egypt later, and perhaps Ebed-melech escaped to his own country, south of Egypt. We are not told—but one can imagine that if the two friends ever met again they would hold much warm intercourse.
In the near course of events when not one nation, but all nations, shall learn righteousness by great judgments, there will be many whose lives will be given them for a prey because they have trusted. Meanwhile, though the end is yet out of sight, and mortal life still with us, we endeavour faithfully and trustfully to
“Foot it bravely, strong or weary,
Trust in God and do the right.”
-M. S.
1912 Christadelphian p 494
Ebed-melech, however, did believe them, or he would not have gone boldly to Zedekiah as he did. “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet.” So to go to such a king at such a time, and with such a message, cannot have been without risk. Of the “profane wicked prince” at this time it is written that “he stiffened his neck” and “hardened his heart.” Also the priests and the people, copying the court, “mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and misused His prophets.” What then? “There was no remedy” (1 Chron. 36:13–16).
We will consider Ebed-melech rather more closely. He must have been a man of determined faith, this “stranger within the gates,” or he would not have troubled himself with such a minute interest in Jeremiah’s fate. “He is like to die for hunger,” he said. His faith is verified in the first sentence of the special message sent from God. “Behold I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good,—they shall be accomplished before thee.” Thus he was to see first that the divine words would come true; then follows the blessing to himself. “Thy life shall be given thee for a prey because thou hast put thy trust in Me.” He put himself on the side of the suffering Jeremiah, who was one of the mocked, despised, and misused. This Cushite stranger had to take the lead (O Israel!) in liberating one of Israel’s prophets. “These men have done evil,” he notifies the king, reminding us of the faithful Obadiah in Jezebel’s time. At this time of the world’s history we are not favoured with any special message for any deed committed. Our trust can now only be fostered by reading what is written concerning these Bible times, and pondering well the Promiser, the promises, and the promised.
“Whether losing, whether winning, Trust in God and do the right.”
The world has grown much older since the stirring events recorded in the prophets. Many generations have figured on the map of history, beginning with the toddlers passing on to youth, then into life’s rush, ending with the hush which comes to all. At present we are on this way in various stages, some young and eager (let them trust), many older and more matured (let them still trust). With the cycle of years times have changed. We have now no literal Jeremiahs to draw out of literal pits, but many equivalents. Else why do brethren, after a week of steady toil, spend their rest-day “in journeyings oft,” to invite others to take God at his word? Or why do faithful sisters undertake other works, perhaps less prominent, but quite as arduous? Is it not because both have faith and trust?
We are not told how the Ethiopian was saved — but saved he would be. Jeremiah was taken into Egypt later, and perhaps Ebed-melech escaped to his own country, south of Egypt. We are not told—but one can imagine that if the two friends ever met again they would hold much warm intercourse.
In the near course of events when not one nation, but all nations, shall learn righteousness by great judgments, there will be many whose lives will be given them for a prey because they have trusted. Meanwhile, though the end is yet out of sight, and mortal life still with us, we endeavour faithfully and trustfully to
“Foot it bravely, strong or weary,
Trust in God and do the right.”
-M. S.
1912 Christadelphian p 494