Word of the Week

12/26/09

So the officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard. It belonged to Malkijah, a member of the royal family. There was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud in the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into (the mire). …Ebed-melech called down to Jeremiah, “Put these rags under your armpits to protect you from the ropes.” Then when Jeremiah was ready, they pulled him out. So Jeremiah returned to the courtyard of the guard--the palace prison--where he remained. Jeremiah 38:6, 11-13 (NLT)

Though Jeremiah was a prophet of God, he was imprisoned under the protection of the king (of this world). When palace officials plotted Jeremiah’s murder, the king turned aside and allowed it. Jeremiah was lowered to a place where there was no water, where his spirit became dry and unable to cry out to God. Instead, he reached the bottom and sank down into the mire, the filth and evil which surrounded him. He did not look up or cry out, but God sent Ebed-melech, a man willing to take a stand for righteousness in spite of his fears for his own safety. Ebed-melech brought provisions to protect Jeremiah from being harmed during his delivery. But it was not until Jeremiah was ready that he was pulled out of the mire he had sunk into. He then remained imprisoned, a part of the world, but not bound and captive and in a miry pit. God kept him from sin though in the world, free to speak God’s word and safe from harm.

Even as Christians, we can find ourselves sunk down into the mire and unable to see anything but darkness around us. Our spirits need the flowing of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God will provide what we need during the most trying times when we put our trust in Him. He waits until we are ready, then lifts us up.

PRAYER: Dear God, Help me to put my trust in You and not sink into the mire. I want to be ready for Your work in my life.