Jeremiah 38:6a Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords.

The prophet Jeremiah’s enemies gathered together against him, seeking to put him to death. As a result, he was cast into the dungeon, where he began to sink in the mire.

Jeremiah 38:6b And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

Adversities and afflictions will often seem to rise against us, much like Jeremiah’s enemies rose against him. Left with no firm footing, you may find yourself sinking in the mire of despair, overwhelmed and oppressed. In the midst of discouragement, your eyes fail you of tears, your voice chokes up and your cry to the gates of Heaven seems to come to no avail, and it becomes harder to look up to the Lord in hope.

Psalms 69:1-3 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Isaiah 38:14a Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward:

But the Lord has not forsaken you, He has not forgotten you, He has not left you to face these trials alone or in your own strength. He is only waiting for you to cry out to Him in faith. Will you look to Him to deliver you from your trouble? Will you trust Him?

The following quote from the book of Lamentations very likely expresses Jeremiah’s prayer from this same dungeon, where he was literally sinking in the mire:

Lamentations 3:52-56 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

Isaiah 38:14b O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

Psalms 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Jeremiah 38:7-10 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin; Ebedmelech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying, My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city. Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

Just like King Zedekiah sent his servant Ebedmelech to rescue Jeremiah from his affliction, so too will you find that the Lord God will send His servant (whatever He may choose, however He may choose – according to His will) to help you in your distress. (Note: the name Ebedmelech literally means “servant of the King”.)

When the mire seems the deepest and you are ready to give up, you will find your Heavenly Father is still at work behind the scenes, setting in motion the plan that will release you from your imprisonment.

Psalms 91:14-16 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Lamentations 3:57-58 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

Jeremiah 38:11-13 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

Keep your focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, trust in Him and His Word – and like Jeremiah was drawn out of the mire of his prison, so too will you be drawn up out of the mire and the waters that have flooded your soul.

Drawn With Cords

Hosea 11:4a I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love.

Drawn From Above

Psalms 18:16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

Set Upon A Rock

Psalms 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Whatever the situation you’re are facing now, when it seems that your soul is sinking deep in the mire, look above – and let Jesus draw you up out of that prison of despair, and set your feet back upon the solid rock! Only in Him will you find the firm footing to face the trials of life.

Love Lifted Me
(Lyrics: James Rowe)

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Chorus:
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!

Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.

November 19th, 2005
Jerry Bouey