A fun, jazzy, energetic choral composition telling the story of Ebed-Melech and how he saved the prophet Jeremiah. Music by Kevin G. Pace. Text by Kathryn W. Hales.  This piece has a minimum purchase requirement of 7 copies. The price is set low to enable you to purchase enough copies for your choir. For larger choirs, please purchase sufficient copies (at least one copy per two choir members).

YouTube video: Savin' Jeremiah

Text:

The Good Book says that Moses
Was buried by the hand of God;
And those bitten by fiery serpents
Were healed by lookin’ at a rod.
Elijah was taken up to heaven
By a chariot of fire,
But the prophet Jeremiah
Was cast into a pit of mire.

“Can’t you hear me, Lord?”
Jeremiah is a’cryin’,
“Wilt Thou deliver me?
For I am surely dyin’.”

The Lord touched the heart
On one Ethiopian
And says to Ebed-Melech,
“Go and save my son.”
That black man, he did hearken
And went straight up to the king,
“What you’ve done to Jeremiah
Is a very wicked thing.”

“Can’t you see his misery?
Can’t you hear him cryin’?
Let me deliver him, O King,
For he is surely dyin’.”

Then Zedekiah repented,
Said, “Go get Jeremiah
Out of that old dungeon
Out of the pit of mire.
Take thirty strong men with you
Do not delay or wait,
Bring the prophet up again
Before it is too late.”

Ebed went to the pit,
Called down into the dark,
“I’s a comin’ to save you,
Now, oh man, take heart.
The king has relented,
But before we start,
Put old rags beneath your arms,
So the ropes won’t leave a mark.

Poor Jeremiah was so weak,
He’d almost lost all hope,
The men did gently lift him up
‘Cause he couldn’t climb the rope.
He was kept in prison,
But now he had some food,
Until the Babylonians came
To seize the multitude.

‘Twas an Ethiopian that saved him,
A servant to Judah’s King,
Blessed be the name of Ebed-Melek
For doin’ such brave things.
The Lord uses many people
From every tribe and race
To be an instrument in His hands,
An implement of His grace.

“Repent all House of Judah,”
Jeremiah kept on a’cryin’,
“Turn unto the Lord again,
Otherwise you’all be dyin’.
His words come down through the years
To the people of today,
“Repent and turn back to the Lord,
And walk His chosen Way.”