Compassion Based on Trust

Jeremiah suffered persecution for God's message.

Prior to the fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity, prompted by the word of the Lord, the prophet Jeremiah foresaw disaster for the Jewish people. Instead of expressing gratitude for the forewarning, king Zedekiah and his officials scorned Jeremiah’s ministry. This loyal prophet faithfully conveyed the message of God to the nation, nevertheless he suffered greatly for it. Their animosity toward Jeremiah led the king’s officials to commit an inconceivable  act. They could no longer stomach the prophet’s messages, and plunged Jeremiah into a muddy well. But he was drawn out when a servant name Ebed-Melech appealed to the king on Jeremiah’s behalf. In saving the prophet Ebed acted honorably. However, the purpose for this moral act went deeper than the effort of a humanitarian. I believe that Ebed  respected Jeremiah’s role as a prophet of God, but was that the only true motivation for staging a rescue?

After centuries of idolatry, the destruction of Jerusalem and captivity for Israel was inevitable. Because of Ebed’s action concerning Jeremiah, God declared that he wouldn’t be swept away with the other members of Zedekiah’s court. I have always assumed that God spared Ebed because of his kindness to one of His representatives. Jesus said that anyone who accepts a prophet in the name of a prophet, reaps a prophet’s reward (Matthew 10:41a). I imagined that since Jeremiah was received by Ebed as a prophet, he received a prophet’s reward. Because neither the prophet nor the servant who accepted him were exiled.

  No doubt, Ebed received mercy from God for mercy shown to Jeremiah. But that isn’t the true reason Ebed was spared. Taking a closer look, we find that God’s mercy to him extended beyond a reward for a humane act. The book of Jeremiah focuses on the catalyst for Ebed’s kind-heartedness, not just the benevolence. The motivation for his compassion was dependence upon God. This caused him to act compassionately and therefore be saved from exile. It is a message given to Jeremiah concerning Ebed that reveals the reason for God’s reward. God’s words concerning Ebed were: “I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but escape with your life, because you trust in me,…” (Jeremiah 40:18). Ebed’s good deed should not be overlooked, but we must remember what led him to act kindly. God commended him for his actions, but also because of his trust in Him.

Do your actions show that your trust is in God? Just a question.