Compare Ahikam's actions with other biblical figures who protected God's prophets. Setting the Scene in Jeremiah 26 • “Yet the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not given into the hands of the people to be put to death.” (Jeremiah 26:24) • The prophet has just delivered a fiery sermon in the temple courts that many judged as treason. The crowd, priests, and officials call for his execution. Meet Ahikam son of Shaphan • Son of Shaphan the scribe who helped rediscover the Book of the Law under King Josiah (2 Kings 22:8–14). • Part of a family known for reverence toward God’s word (cf. Shaphan and sons in Jeremiah 36:10, 25). • Uses his influence in the royal court to shield Jeremiah from mob justice. His intervention is swift, public, and—at that moment—life-saving. Ahikam’s Courage in Context • Stands against popular opinion and powerful leaders. • Risks personal position and possibly his life; assassination and exile were real threats in Judah’s final decades. • Models a faith-driven loyalty to God’s messenger rather than to prevailing political winds. Echoes of Protection in Scripture Obadiah and the Prophets (1 Kings 18:3-4) • “Obadiah feared the LORD greatly… he hid a hundred prophets of the LORD, fifty men to a cave, and provided them with bread and water.” • Like Ahikam, Obadiah operates inside the royal administration—yet chooses fidelity to God over King Ahab’s policy. Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 19:1-7; 20:30-34) • Jonathan “spoke well of David to Saul” and warned him of threats. • Though David is future king and prophet (Acts 2:30), Jonathan risks inheritance and paternal wrath to preserve God’s chosen servant. Ebed-Melech and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:7-13) • The Cushite eunuch petitions Zedekiah, rescues Jeremiah from a cistern, and supplies rags for a gentle lift-out. • Both Ebed-Melech and Ahikam act inside palace walls; both believe God sees and rewards (Jeremiah 39:15-18). The Shunammite Woman and Elisha (2 Kings 4:8-10) • Provides a furnished upper room “for the man of God” during hostile times in Israel. • Her hospitality preserves the prophet’s ministry and is later rewarded with a son and resurrection power (2 Kings 4:32-37). Joseph of Arimathea and Jesus (Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-53) • “A prominent Council member… who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.” • Though Jesus is more than a prophet, Joseph’s courageous request for the body honors the Lord when public opinion is lethal. Shared Motives and God’s Hand • Fear of the LORD over fear of men. • Trust that protecting God’s messenger is aligning with God’s plan. • Willingness to leverage position, possessions, or privilege for righteousness. • The Lord records and rewards every act—sometimes immediately (Elisha’s benefactor), sometimes later (Ebed-Melech), always certainly. Lessons for Today • Standing with God’s truth may require standing against the majority. • Influence, whether public office or private resources, is stewardship to defend God’s servants. • Courageous loyalty, like Ahikam’s, often writes an unseen chapter in God’s unfolding story—one life spared can mean generations reached. |
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