Ebed-Melek, whose name means “Servant of the King,” appears in Jeremiah 38 as a courageous Ethiopian eunuch serving in the court of King Zedekiah of Judah. His story is notable because he stands up for the prophet Jeremiah when others want to harm him. Ebed-Melek’s story is remarkable because he steps into a dangerous political situation, advocating for someone who is unpopular and condemned.
He shows us how to be a servant leader. This are the characteristics of a good servant leader
- We should intercede for others in King’s service.
Ebed- Melek interceded for Jeremiah in Jeremiah 38:8-9. This is a true mark of a servant leader. We should pray for our bosses. 8 Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, 9 “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.”
2. We should be in Continuous Fellowship
Ebed- Melek got involved with others in order to bring Jeremiah from the pit. Jeremiah 38:1010 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” You cant be a good servant leader if you don’t involve yourself in Fellowship with others
3 We should be ready to help others
Ebed Melek went to remove Jeremiah from thre pit with his filthy rags ready to remove Jeremiah from the pit. we are told that our righteousness is like filthy rags, that’s what we use to do good to others Jeremiah 38:11 11 So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. 12 Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, 13 and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.
