Forbidden FaithSample

Ebed-Melech – Brave Advocate

‘But Ebed-Melech, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, Ebed-Melech went out of the palace and said to him, “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.”’ (Jeremiah 38: 7–10 NIV)

Jeremiah’s rescuer was an Ethiopian, presumably brought to Jerusalem as a slave and made a eunuch. ‘Ebed-Melech’ means ‘servant of the king’ – probably a title rather than his name – and it seems he held high rank. Ebed-Melech risked Zedekiah’s anger to serve the King of kings, by pleading for Jeremiah. God has His people in high places. The Bible describes how Esther, the young Jewish woman who married King Xerxes, was instrumental in saving her people from genocide. Writing to the Philippians, Paul spoke of the believers in Caesar’s household. Today CSW is grateful to have allies in positions of influence who speak up boldly for religious freedom for all. Brave and compassionate, Ebed-Melech was Jeremiah’s true friend, not forgetting him in the midst of the turmoil of the besieged city. He dropped what he was doing and rushed to speak to the king and beg for mercy.

In our busy lives, may we remember to take time to stand up for justice. It is easy to leave it to someone else but maybe God is calling ordinary people like you and me to be advocates for those who are hidden away and suffering for their faith – and to pray for them too.

Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan demonstrates that it is often the stranger in our communities who shows most compassion. May we be ready to respond to any prompting God gives us to reach out to those in other parts of the world who need our support.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for people like Ebed-Melech, who are willing to identify with those in prison and work for their release. Please raise up more Christians to do the same today. Amen.