Scriptures: Jeremiah 37 & Jeremiah 38
Israel had asked Egypt to help them fight Babylon, the Chaldeans. However, Egypt returned to their own land and Israel was left alone to fight the Chaldeans. The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah that Jerusalem would be destroyed by Babylon unless they surrendered to them. Jeremiah was accused of treason, beaten, and put into prison by the princes. King Zedekiah came to Jeremiah to ask him if there was any word from the Lord. Jeremiah told him even though he knew it might mean he would be put to death. The king told them to keep Jeremiah in the court of the prison and give him a piece of bread daily until all the bread in Jerusalem was gone.
The princes were so angry with Jeremiah and the word from the Lord that he spoke that they asked the king to have Jeremiah put to death. The king told them to do with Jeremiah as they wished. They cast him into a dungeon where there was no water, letting him down with cords, into the mire to die. (vs.6)
However, there was a servant named Ebedmelech (typifying the Holy Spirit) in the king’s house that knew where Jeremiah was and he wanted to save him. The king grants Ebedmelech’s request and gives him 30 men to rescue Jeremiah from the pit. Ebedmelech gets old rags and threadbare, worn-out clothes from under the king’s treasury to use in Jeremiah’s rescue. Ebedmelech instructs Jeremiah to put these rags and cloths under his arms when the cords are let down to pull him out, just as the Spirit guides and teaches us. Ebedmelech knew this would ease Jeremiah’s pain and suffering as he was lifted up by the cords. (vs.11,12)
Jesus, our Savior, took our pain and suffering, putting on the flesh (the old rags) so that we could be lifted out of the mire of sin and death. His love, mercy, and grace are like those old rags that took away the pain and suffering in our soul.
We are like those old rags, too. We are worthless, serving no purpose without Him. In His hands, we are made useful, worthy, and have a purpose. We can be used by Him, like those old rags, to help ease the pain and suffering of others, help others come to Christ to be saved; help them to be lifted up out of the mire of sin.
All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, but Jesus has made us righteous through His righteousness. (From Isaiah 64:6)
Jesus was lifted up on the cross to suffer and die so that we could be lifted up out of sin and death and be reconciled to God.
He lifted us out of the pit and set our feet upon the Rock-lifted us up and out of the mire and brought us over and into life, into a beautiful place, His kingdom. (From Psalm 40:2)
Jeremiah’s message from God was not popular as the Gospel message is still despised and rejected by many today. However, Jeremiah stood boldly with what God had given him. We are called to be Jeremiahs in our generation-claiming the Gospel, willing to be unpopular and unaccepted by the world for the Gospel’s sake.