International Sunday School Lesson November 2, 2025
Hello, I am Donnie Bryson. Welcome to another edition of our treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Today’s lesson is for November 2, 2025. It’s lesson #9 for the Fall Quarter. The title of today’s lesson is, “Jeremiah’s Rescue”. It’s taken from Jeremiah 38:7-13. Jeremiah was one of the most hated people in Judea. He kept warning folks that they need to repent. They resisted and the punishment finally came. The Babylonians came and conquered. Jeremiah told the people that they needed to submit to the Babylonians and endure the captivity. That triggered more hatred than even the warnings Jeremiah had been giving them over the years. Many of the Jews considered Jeremiah to be a traitor and a sell-out to Nebuchadnezzar. Today’s lesson tells us about Jeremiah being rescued by the godly Ethiopian, Ebed-Melech.
Jeremiah 38:7 ESV
When Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern—the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate—
Jeremiah had been persecuted several times before he was thrown into the cistern. He was ordered to be beaten by Pashhur. He was also put into stocks for humiliation. Being thrown into the cistern was done to end Jeremiah. There was no food or water available in the cistern. They wanted to get rid of Jeremiah without getting their hands bloody. Put him in the cistern, leave him alone, and let him starve to death.
Jeremiah 38:8–9 ESV
Ebed-melech went from the king’s house and 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.”
We see the compassion and godliness of Ebed-melech. He was tactful in the manner that he approached the king. He doesn’t accuse the king of knowing or participating in the attack on Jeremiah although most likely the king was complacent. Ebed-melech was rewarded for his compassion and wisdom. Later, God told Ebed-melech in Jeremiah 39:15–18 “The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard: “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. 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. 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 38:10 ESV
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.”
These were most likely guards of the king. They may have even participated in Jeremiah’s persecution at some point. They were now enlisted in getting Jeremiah out of the well.
Jeremiah 38:11–12 ESV
So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe in the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did so.
Jeremiah was in a depleted state. He had been without food and water. The ropes of that day were rough and abrasive. That’s why the old rages were used to pull
Jeremiah 38:13 ESV
Then they drew Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
Jeremiah reveals his inner life and thoughts often in the book. There is a lot of biographical material in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah laments his prophetic call. Jeremiah 20:7–9 “O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.”
Concluding Thoughts
A couple of concluding thoughts. Jeremiah was completely out of sync with the society around him. God called him to proclaim an unpopular message. Jeremiah even resisted speaking that message. But he did gave into his call and spoke what God would have him say. We should speak the truth too regardless of the consequences. Well friends, good Lord willing, I’ll be back with you next weekend.
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