[The Lord] saves the souls of his saints, and delivers them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 97:10)

Ephethmelech

God rewards those who do His will. A good example is the godly Ethiopian "Ephedmelech" whom we don't know much about in scripture. Ebedmelech was a servant of the household of King Zedekiah (the unfaithful ruler of Judah) and lived in the time of Jeremiah the prophet. Ephedmelech learned that the princes of Judah had falsely accused the prophet Jeremiah of being a traitor and put him in a waterless well to starve to death. (Jeremiah 38:1-7)

Ebedmelech, knowing that Jeremiah was bitterly hated by others because of the prophetic message he was proclaiming, pleaded with the king at the risk of his life. Gathering his courage, he said: "My lord the king, what this man has done in banishing Jeremiah the prophet is unbecoming; he will die of starvation where he is, and there will be no more bread in the city.

Then the king said to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, "Take thirty men with you from here and take Jeremiah the prophet out of the desert before he dies."

(Jeremiah 38:9-10) Then at the command of the king, Ebedmelech gathered 30 men with him and rescued the prophet of God.

Perhaps Ephedmelech was afraid, but his faith enabled him to overcome that fear. God noticed that faith in action. How did he benefit from it? To Ephemelech he said through Jeremiah: "Behold, I will not bring my words upon this city for good, but for evil; . . . but I will deliver you in that day, . . . you shall not be given into the hand of men whom you fear. I will surely deliver you, . . . because you trusted in me, and your life was found for you." (Jeremiah 39:16-18) As he said, the Lord God released Ephemelech. He also freed Jeremiah. From whom? He delivered them first from the wicked rulers of Judah and then from the Babylonians who had razed Jerusalem to the ground. Everyone who helps to save God's children will be freed.. Jesus the Son is the one who frees you.

[The Lord] saves the souls of his saints and delivers them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 97:10) Amen.