Dying in a Pit

O. T. #1808  "Dying in a Pit"

Oct. 27, 2020

Jeremiah 38

LET IT GLOW

Anyone feel like you are dying in a pit today? There are so many kinds of pits that we can find our self in-hum-drum pit, self-pity pit, despair, pride, self-will. We may fall into one of those when we take our eyes off of Jesus and wander off the path of His will for our life. There are numerous pitfalls, awaiting for us-financial, marital, job, too much free time, etc. Even well-meaning friends can entice us to go down there. So we have to be alert constantly. Poor Jeremiah found himself down in a pit, which was intended for him to die in. Let's see how he got there.

Jeremiah was a prophet that was fearless and faithful to stand his ground throughout his years of serving God and delivering unpopular messages of repentance and doom. King Zedekiah would have taken good care of Jeremiah, but his government officials wanted to kill the prophet. Those officials became enemies of the prophet and the king was only a puppet as they pulled his strings. They thought Jeremiah's words were that of a traitor and treason and he ought to die. He was unpopular and they thought he was undermining the morale of the army  and the people. Which is most important to us-what others think and say or what God wants, thinks and says about us?

No wonder Judah was in turmoil. Their king agreed with everybody. He listened to Jeremiah's words from God in 37:21 and to the officials, agreeing  the prophet should be killed in 38:5. That is how the king was wishy-washy. Zedekiah could not decide between public opinion and God's will.  

Four princely rulers heard Jeremiah's message: those remaining in Jerusalem will die by the sword, famine, or disease. Those who surrender and go with the Babylonians will live, for their reward will be life. They will live! (verses 1-4)

In Billy Graham's devotional, Wisdom For Each Day, we find reassurance:

You aren't where you are by accident; you are there by God's design. Your country, your city, your family, your job or school-God put you there never does anything without a reason. You are where you are by God's sovereign design, and He wants to use you right where you are. This world is not our final home; because of what Christ has done for us we have "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you." (1 Peter 1:4 NIV) But in the meantime God calls us to be instruments of His love and justice in an unbelieving world. Jeremiah 29:7 says, Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you... Pray to the Lord for it.

Good words to remember. Are we faithfully serving our God, sharing His love and the good news that Jesus saves us from our sins. 

LET IT GROW

 The king agreed with the officials and Jeremiah was lowered by ropes into an empty cistern of mud and mire in the prison yard. There he was left to die. He could have died from thirst, hunger, hypothermia, or suffocation if he sank too deeply into the bottom.

Water was collected in them in the winter rainy season and was stored for use during the dry summer. Since the water had been consumed from this cistern, Jeremiah sank into the mud and would have suffocated except for the intervention and used an insignificant person, Ebed-melech who persuaded Zedekiah to change his mind again. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

Were there no friends of Jeremiah around to rescue him from that yucky pit? Perhaps they were too afraid to risk their life to help. Maybe everyone turned against him because of the gloom and doom messages he shared.

Well, thank God there was one. Ebed-melech was an insignificant person, an Ethiopian eunuch, an official in the king's palace. (verse 7) Obviously, he feared God and was courageous enough to approach the king, reporting what had happened to Jeremiah. The king gave him permission to rescue Jeremiah from the pit. Then, the  prophet went back into house arrest. (verses 8-13)

This eunuch later received God's deliverance of his own life and His tribute for his faith. (39:15-18) 

Don't think you are insignificant, dear one. Even when we give a cup of water in Jesus' name, we are rewarded. 

Do you feel like your life is sinking in mud with no way out? Turn to Jesus. His arm is not too short to pull you out of it.

LET IT GO

You are faithful, God.

You are on our side.