Ahikam to the Rescue
Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death. Jeremiah 26:24
Read Jeremiah 26:16-24
At a very dangerous and critical moment, help and strength was given to Jeremiah from the Lord, for the sake of Christ. The Lord Jesus would be called to stand alone as the Surety and Mediator when everything was against Him. Voices would repeatedly be raised: Let Him be crucified! As a result, Barabbas, the criminal, would be set free while Christ was nailed upon the cross. And there, He would even be forsaken by God, His Father. This was all due to our sin and our guilt. Only in this way could God’s justice be satisfied and sinners be set free. It is all of grace. Christ Jesus shed His blood to cover all manner of sin and to cleanse from all manner of evil. This was why the Lord could support Jeremiah and provide deliverance. At the conclusion of Jeremiah 26 we read: Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam… was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
Ahikam’s name means brotherly support. He rescued Jeremiah. However, already in eternity the Lord Jesus made Himself available to save sinners, and in the fullness of time He became like unto His brethren in all things, sin excepted. He stood up for His followers at His arrest when He said: Whom seek ye? If ye seek Me, let these go their way. That is why you and I may pray for and receive help, mercy, and forgiveness.
Thought: Stephen also stood alone against many enemies and was stoned to death. Is this compatible to what we saw in Jeremiah 26?
Psalter 398: 2,3 (based on Psalm 145) The Lord is just in all His ways, In all His works the Lord is kind, And all that call on Him in truth In Him a present helper find. He will fulfill the heart’s desire Of those that fear Him and obey; Their cry the Lord will surely hear, And He will save them when they pray. His great salvation they shall know Who love the Lord’s most holy Name; The wicked He will overthrow And put His enemies to shame. My mouth shall speak the glorious praise Of Him Whom heaven and earth adore; Let all exalt His holy Name, Forever and forevermore.