Jeremiah 38:11-15: a reflection

11So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there rags and worn-out garments, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. 12Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Now put these rags and worn-out garments under your armpits under the cords.” Jeremiah did so. 13So they lifted Jeremiah up with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon; and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard. 14Then Zedekiah the king sent and took Jeremiah the prophet to himself into the third entry that is in the LORD’s house. Then the king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you something. Hide nothing from me.” 15Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I declare it to you, will you not surely put me to death? If I give you counsel, you will not listen to me.”

Jeremiah has been thrown into a muddy cistern to die, and Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian official, gets permission to rescue him. But notice the tender detail of how he does it. He gathers old rags and worn-out garments and lets them down to Jeremiah on the ropes, and tells him: Put these rags and worn-out clothes under your arms, under the ropes. He thought not only to pull Jeremiah out, but to spare him the pain of the ropes cutting into him, cushioning the cords with rags. His kindness attended to the small detail of Jeremiah's comfort.

Notice the thoughtfulness in that small act. Ebed-melech could have simply thrown down the ropes and hauled Jeremiah up; the rescue would have been accomplished. But he took care for the details, for how it would feel, for sparing Jeremiah unnecessary pain, cushioning the ropes so they would not cut into him. His compassion was not merely a grand gesture but attended to the small things that ease another's suffering.

That is a picture of thoughtful kindness worth imitating. Real compassion is not only in the big rescues but in the small, thoughtful details, the care that thinks ahead to how something will feel, that goes the extra step to ease another's discomfort, that attends to the little things others might overlook. Ebed-melech cushioned the ropes. When you help someone, do not only accomplish the task; attend, as he did, to the small kindnesses that ease their pain and show you care. Thoughtful compassion notices the details. Be the kind of helper who cushions the ropes.

Lord, Ebed-melech did not only rescue Jeremiah but thought to cushion the ropes with rags, sparing him the pain of the cords, a small act of thoughtful kindness. Make me that kind of helper. When I help others, keep me from merely accomplishing the task; help me attend to the small kindnesses that ease their pain, the thoughtful details others might overlook. Give me a compassion that notices the little things, that thinks ahead to how something will feel. Help me be one who cushions the ropes.