August 7, 2021 -- Jeremiah 39:15-18 -- Known to God our Father

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: 16 “Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. 17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the LORD.’”
Jeremiah 39:15-18 ESV

Ebed-Melech—his name means: servant of the king--was a eunuch in the household of King Zedekiah. The king acted wickedly against the Living God and against His servant, the prophet, Jeremiah. In reaction to all of this, Ebed-Melech interceded for the life of Jeremiah, rescuing him from the bottom of a muddy, deep well, where the son of King Zedekiah had disrespectfully thrown him. For a servant to speak in this way to the king was a great risk. Jerusalem was about to be overthrown and her King and his family put to death or sent to exile. Jerusalem would be in upheaval, the spoils of war, a prize for the Babylonians. In all that chaos, the LORD would spare Ebed-melech giving him his life as prize of war for the glory of God.

While reading these verses in my devotions this morning, I couldn’t help but stop and give praise to God, in humble wonder, for all His glory, greatness, kindness and mercy. The prairies of Canada are staggering from drought. Fires are racing through BC. The media is already hyping the possibilities of Delta variant problems regarding Covid. Businesses are opening up and finding it hard to recruit workers and the economy is tanking. It would be easy to be distressed. The take-away from our verses today is this: The LORD knows each of us by name. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. And not one of us will fall outside of His great love and grace. While the people of the world are running headlong into destruction, the people who are faithful to Him continue to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. 

Because of the cross of Jesus Christ our lives are kept safe. Sins have been punished upon the person of Jesus Christ. In our newfound freedom, we act and live and serve our Great King, God the Most Blessed of Heaven, without reference to all the machinations of the world. He gives us our lives as a prize of war, because we have put our trust in Him. In view of His great love, what can we say to all of this, but to sing or pray back to Him, the great praise of Psalm 100?!

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

https://youtu.be/3rT8Re1EIQc