Courage from the pit

Doing the right thing

Think of a time when doing the right thing cost you something? What did you do?

Jeremiah still is preaching the truth, surrender (repent) or die. He is chained still in the courtyard of the king, but that does not stop him. Jeremiah’s message is unpopular, some would say treasonous. Yet, Jeremiah stays faithful to the message. In our chapter we will see some clashes.

Between Truth and political pressure

Between Faithfulness and Fear

Between courage and cowardice

These are some of the same things we may face today when we have a message that is not well received and we have to choose faithfulness over fear or appease the world.

Truth or fear passage

Jeremiah will deliver God’s message, again. Surrender and live, resist and die. Judah will reject the message, again. We will see an unlikely person arise as God’s servant to help Jeremiah, and finally a King who must choose between truth and fear of the people.

Jeremiah 38:1–5 “Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord, ‘He who stays in this city will die by the sword and by famine and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans will live and have his own life as booty and stay alive.’ “Thus says the Lord, ‘This city will certainly be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon and he will capture it.’ ” Then the officials said to the king, “Now let this man be put to death, inasmuch as he is discouraging the men of war who are left in this city and all the people, by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of this people but rather their harm.” So King Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hands; for the king can do nothing against you.””

Jeremiah 38:6–10 “Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchijah the king’s son, which was in the court of the guardhouse; and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. Now in the cistern there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud. But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, while he was in the king’s palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. Now the king was sitting in the Gate of Benjamin; and Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and spoke to the king, saying, “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have cast into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.” Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, “Take thirty men from here under your authority and bring up Jeremiah the prophet from the cistern before he dies.””

Jeremiah 38:11–15 “So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went into the king’s palace to a place beneath the storeroom and took from there worn-out clothes and worn-out rags and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Now put these worn-out clothes and rags under your armpits under the ropes”; and Jeremiah did so. So they pulled Jeremiah up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, and Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guardhouse. Then King Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance that is in the house of the Lord; and the king said to Jeremiah, “I am going to ask you something; do not hide anything from me.” Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, will you not certainly put me to death? Besides, if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.””

Jeremiah 38:16–20 “But King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in secret saying, “As the Lord lives, who made this life for us, surely I will not put you to death nor will I give you over to the hand of these men who are seeking your life.” Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘If you will indeed go out to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned with fire, and you and your household will survive. ‘But if you will not go out to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be given over to the hand of the Chaldeans; and they will burn it with fire, and you yourself will not escape from their hand.’ ” Then King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I dread the Jews who have gone over to the Chaldeans, for they may give me over into their hand and they will abuse me.” But Jeremiah said, “They will not give you over. Please obey the Lord in what I am saying to you, that it may go well with you and you may live.”

Jeremiah 38:21–24 ““But if you keep refusing to go out, this is the word which the Lord has shown me: ‘Then behold, all of the women who have been left in the palace of the king of Judah are going to be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon; and those women will say, “Your close friends Have misled and overpowered you; While your feet were sunk in the mire, They turned back.” ‘They will also bring out all your wives and your sons to the Chaldeans, and you yourself will not escape from their hand, but will be seized by the hand of the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned with fire.’ ” Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Let no man know about these words and you will not die.”

Jeremiah 38:25–28 ““But if the officials hear that I have talked with you and come to you and say to you, ‘Tell us now what you said to the king and what the king said to you; do not hide it from us and we will not put you to death,’ then you are to say to them, ‘I was presenting my petition before the king, not to make me return to the house of Jonathan to die there.’ ” Then all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him. So he reported to them in accordance with all these words which the king had commanded; and they ceased speaking with him, since the conversation had not been overheard. So Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guardhouse until the day that Jerusalem was captured.”

Is there anything that stands out to you in this passage? And why?

Courage in Confinement

Jeremiah’s courage to give God’s message regardless ends him up in a muddy cistern (pit). We today may face opposition when speaking truth, yet are called to trust in God’s overriding purpose and provision in difficult circumstances.

Jeremiah faithfully proclaims God’s message (Jer38:1-3)

Surrender and live; Resist and bring death

Officials reject message and accuse of treason (Jer38:4-5)

They claim that he discourages the soldiers and the people and ask the king to silence the messenger

Jeremiah thrown in the cistern (Jer38:6)

Zedekiah had given into the people (v.5) and now Jeremiah thrown in cistern. No water, just a muddy pit, a slow, cruel death lay ahead for Jeremiah.

Key Point: Faithfulness to God’s truth may bring opposition from those who resist His will.

Deliverance through Divine Allies

Ebed-melech hears of Jeremiah’s plight, his injustice and courageously goes to the king (Jer38:7-9)

An unlikely person, eunuch, being used as a divine ally.

Zedekiah grants permission and the rescue happens with ropes and rages (Jer38:10-13)

Ebed-melech shows both courage and tenderness in addressing the king. Zedekiah avoids responsibility, again.

Key point: God often uses unexpected people to accomplish His compassionate purposes.

Fear can prevent obedience to God

Jeremiah remains steadfast, faithful to God’s message, and now Zedekiah secretly calls for him to give message directly.

The King seeks Jeremiah privately (Jer38:14)

Where he wants truth, fears of the people are seen.

Jeremiah demands honesty and obedience (Jer38:15-16)

Jeremiah will speak truth, and Zedekiah must choose

The message repeated and the kings feelings revealed (Jer38:17-19)

Surrender and live; resist and face destruction.

Zedekiah let’s it be known of his fear of the Jews who defected to Babylon. Fear of people more than God.

Jeremiah wars of consequences (Jer38:20-23)

Disobedience will bring humiliation and destruction.

Key point: God’s message remains consistent.

God’s word is true; whether accepted or rejected.

Jeremiah remains faithful to God’s word that is unchanging.

Zedekiah seeks secrecy (Jer38:24-26)

He is more concerned about appearances than obedience.

Zedekiah wants to appear strong while remaining weak.

Key Point: Avoiding God’s truth does not prevent its fulfillment.

Application’s for today

Faithfulness may cost is —but unfaithfulness costs far more

Jeremiah suffered for speaking truth; Zedekiah suffered for avoiding it

God values courage wherever it appears (i.e. Ebed-melech)

Ebed-melech shows faithfulness is not about status, nationality, or power- - - it’s about character

Trust God’s word above human opinion

Zedekiah had the truth of the word but valued the people more. so be a Jeremiah, or an Ebed-melech and stand courageously.

God’s word does not change because circumstances are difficult.

Cultures change, public opinion changes, but God’s word remains constant.

Encouragement: Build your life on God’s truth rather than popular sentiment.

(Conclusion) God’s word calls, demands for a response. The officials rejected it, Zedekiah feared obeying it, while Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed it. Jeremiah was committed to God’s message and sets a great example for us. Faithfulness is not measured by popularity or success, but by obedience to God.

Major takeaway: Faithfulness to God requires courage to stand on His truth, trust His purposes, and obey Him even when pressure, opposition, or fear make obedience difficult.