“So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern … And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

When Ebed-melech the Ethiopian…  said to the king,  “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.” Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Take thirty men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

… Then they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern…”
Jeremiah 38:6-13

Jeremiah was in a dark place.

He had faithfully proclaimed God’s word, year after year.
No one listened, yet he kept it up.

And now, he finds himself at the bottom of a well.
Covered in darkness and in mud, sinking.

It was a completely hopeless situation.
No doubt, Jeremiah felt alone and abandoned.

But there — in the court of the King was a righteous man.

Ebed-melech, an Ethopian Eunuch found out what had happened to Jeremiah
and went to the king to save Jeremiah before he starved to death at the bottom of the well.

King Zedekiah listened to his servant Ebed-melech and sent him, along with 30 men to pull Jeremiah out of the well. Because of Ebed-melech, Jeremiah was saved.

It’s a great story, but there is more.

Jeremiah’s rescue is a portrait, a shadow of a greater rescue, by a greater Savior.

Years before Jeremiah, David wrote in Psalm 40:1-3,

I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.

He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.

Jesus — our King, has pulled us out of the pit.
He has heard our cry.
He pulled us out of a life of darkness and hopelessness.
He has rescued us.
He sets our feet on solid ground.
He is teaching us how to walk and to stand firmly for Him.
He gives us a new song of joy to sing.

As God’s people, we have the privilege of sharing in that work with him.

Ebed-melech’s name means “Servant of the King”.

We who have experienced God’s rescue — are also the “servants of the King”.
We are to be about His business — being used by Him, to pull people out of despair and darkness.

But we don’t have to do it alone, nor are we meant to.

King Zedekiah commanded Ebed-melech to bring thirty men with him to pull Jeremiah out of the pit.

Jesus sent his disciples out — two at a time.
When He established His church through His apostles, they appointed elders.
We are the body of Christ — made up of many members.

Together, God has called us to be in the business of pulling people out of pits and bringing them into His kingdom.
This is something that happens outside the four walls of our church gathering. And it happens through a team effort.

How will God use you and your local body?
What is the Spirit saying to your church?
Are you listening?

Jesus is longing to do a greater work, as we unite under His banner, for His glory — working together to pull many into His kingdom.