Jeremiah in a cistern

Week 4: Friday

Reading

Jeremiah 38.1-13

Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah was saying to all the people, Thus says the Lord, Those who stay in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but those who go out to the Chaldeans shall live; they shall have their lives as a prize of war, and live. Thus says the Lord, This city shall surely be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon and be taken. Then the officials said to the king, ‘This man ought to be put to death, because he is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.’ King Zedekiah said, ‘Here he is; he is in your hands; for the king is powerless against you.’ So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. Now there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. The king happened to be sitting at the Benjamin Gate, So Ebed-melech left the king’s house and spoke to the king, ‘My lord king, these men have acted wickedly in all they did to the prophet Jeremiah by throwing him into the cistern to die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.’ Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Take three men with you from here, and pull the prophet Jeremiah up from the cistern before he dies.’ So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe of 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, ‘Just put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.’ Jeremiah did so. Then they drew Jeremiah up by the ropes and pulled him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

Reflection

Jeremiah is the great prophet who experiences the exile into Babylon, and the complexity of life under colonial occupation. He has a word from God that is difficult, and he is faithful in proclaiming it. Those who dislike what he says puts him in a cistern, a place of no escape, to starve and die. Jeremiah – “the weeping prophet” – is made to be quiet through the plotting of his own people.

When the truth you speak is not heard, and attempts are made to silence you, it is heart-breaking. This has been the experience of Black people in racist and xenophobic societies. The silencing often leads to an inner rage. It is not only the mouth that is silenced, but one’s identity, creativity and beauty. Jeremiah’s ordeal offers an image of hope: he continued to speak God’s truth, and time proved his words to be true.

Watch

Recall moments when you felt profoundly unheard whilst speaking your truth.

...and pray

for courage to speak the truth in a world too often fashioned by lies.

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