Day 668: A lesson of obedience - Jeremiah 35

1-2 This is the message the Lord gave Jeremiah when Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah: “Go to the settlement where the families of the Rechabites live, and invite them to the Lord’s Temple. Take them into one of the inner rooms, and offer them some wine.” 3-5 So I went to see Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah and grandson of Habazziniah, and all his brothers and sons representing all the Rechabite families. I took them to the Temple, and we went into the room assigned to the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God. This room was located next to the one used by the Temple officials, directly above the room of Maaseiah son of Shallum, the Temple gatekeeper. I set cups and jugs of wine before them and invited them to have a drink.  6 -7 But they refused. “No,” they said, “we don’t drink wine, because our ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab gave us this command: ‘You and your descendants must never drink wine.  And don't build houses or plant crops or vineyards, but always live in tents. If you follow these commands, you will live long, good lives in the land.’ 8-10 So we have obeyed him in all these things. We have never had a drink of wine to this day, nor have our wives, our sons, or our daughters. We haven’t built houses or owned vineyards or farms or planted crops. We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed all the commands of Jonadab, our ancestor. 11 But when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked this country, we were afraid of the Babylonian and Syrian armies, so we decided to move to Jerusalem. That is why we are here.”

12-13 Then the Lord gave this message to Jeremiah: “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: Go and say to the people in Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Come and learn a lesson about how to obey me.  14-17 The Rechabites do not drink wine to this day because their ancestor Jonadab told them not to. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you refuse to obey me. Time after time I sent you prophets, who told you, “Turn from your wicked ways, and start doing things right. Stop worshiping other gods so that you might live in peace here in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you would not listen to me or obey me. The descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab have obeyed their ancestor completely, but you have refused to listen to me.’ “Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you refuse to listen or answer when I call, I will send upon Judah and Jerusalem all the disasters I have threatened.’” 18-19 Then Jeremiah turned to the Rechabites and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed your ancestor Jonadab in every respect, following all his instructions.’  Therefore, this is what the Lord  of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jonadab son of Rechab will always have descendants who serve me.’” Jeremiah 35 New Living Translation (Link for English Standard)

A longer reading but I'm sure you picked up the simple but important point that was being made. Jehoiakim had reigned in Jerusalem for 11 years before being taken as prisoner to Babylon. During Jehoiakim's time when the Babylonians were plundering the countryside a nomadic group called the Rechabites had taken refuge behind Jerusalem's walls. So God sent Jeremiah on the errand of asking them to drink wine. What was their reason for refusing his offer? (vs 6-7)

Their father, Jonadab, had given them a command to never drink wine or build homes, but to live a nomadic life in tents. How did God apply this to the people of Jerusalem? (vs 14-17)

The obedience of the Rechabites to an earthly father put Israel to shame for their disobedience to God. Is there a challenge here for Christians? The apostle Paul once had to rebuke Christians in Corinth for turning a blind eye to a scandal in the Church that would've made unbelievers blush. So too people in false religions sometimes obey their god more consistently than many Christians obey Christ. God rewarded the Rechabites for their obedience, and Paul wrote to those who love Jesus and said: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24) May that be true of us.