Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
Text: Jeremiah 38-39
Jeremiah was preaching the destruction of Jerusalem when he was arrested and thrown into the dungeon to rot and die. But there was a certain Ethiopian named Ebedmelech working in the palace who couldn’t stand the unjust mistreatment of Jeremiah. Ebedmelech has heard Jeremiah’s preaching for a while now. He may not have been there for all forty years of Jeremiah’s ministry, but he’s certainly heard enough to know what he needs to know about the God of Israel and his preacher, Jeremiah.
By faith Ebedmelech visits Jeremiah in prison
- This heathen Gentile feels a certain camaraderie and responsibility for Jeremiah because he believes the words of Jeremiah’s God and loves God’s prophet.
- It’s a risky and bold move to aid a man who is condemned as a traitor to his nation.
By faith Ebedmelech practices righteousness that will deliver him from death
- As we move to Jeremiah 39 we see much of the book coming to fruition. King Zedekiah is judged for not believing the words of God. The city of Jerusalem and the land that belonged to the tribe of Judah were utterly destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.
- But Jeremiah, who has been faithful to the words of God, is treated kindly by the Babylonians.
- And Ebedmelech, a heathen brother joined in the fellowship by faith, is delivered from death.
- Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
- Proverbs 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
- Here’s why God’s grace was dispensed to him. Look at 39:15-18. Ebedmelech’s faith led him to seek out just and equitable treatment of the prophet. Ebedmelech became an executor of God’s righteousness by faith.
- What did Ebedmelech’s faith look like? It looked like his love for Jeremiah because of the spirit in Jeremiah.
- John 15:17-19 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
By faith Ebedmelech will be justified before the judgment of Jesus Christ
- Matthew 25:31-41
- This is Jesus Christ judging from his judgment seat. Some of the dispensational views of judgment and trying to split things up aren’t Biblical. They’re only made necessary because of too many divisions in their theology.
- When Paul says we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, he isn’t talking about “church age” people, which is what many dispensationalists teachers think. He’s talking about literally all people. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
- Here we have a perfect case where an old testament Gentile heathen would be judged by the LORD Jesus Christ, not quite understanding the judgment until it’s explained to him.
