Our Scripture passage today from the prophet Jeremiah is perhaps one that is less familiar to many people. It tells the account of a family descended from Rechab through his son Jehonadab, and his desire for his family to live a certain way, which they did for many generations, receiving commendation from both the prophet and the Lord. Let’s take a quick look and see the important lessons we can learn from this Scripture.
Our Scripture takes place during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, who reigned from 609-598 BC. The events recorded here took place after the initial Babylonian invasion led by Nebuchadnezzar, so possibly around 602 or 601 BC. (Nebuchadnezzar made three invasions into Judah - 605, 597, and 586 BC). The Lord had a message for the people of Judah, and He wished to use the Rechabite family to be an example or picture of the lesson He wanted to teach them. The Lord instructed the prophet Jeremiah to call some of the leaders of the Rechabite clan together, which he did. When they came together, Jeremiah offered them some wine (vs. 1-5). These men refused the wine for a very specific reason.
These men were all from one clan, from one family, descended from Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. Jehonadab set a family rule for his descendants to follow, that they would never drink alcohol, and to live in tents as Bedouins rather than a house (vs. 6-11). Now, approximately 250 years later, the extended family of Jehonadab was still adhering to the family law. The beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s invasions forced the clan to flee into Jerusalem for safety, but they were still obeying their family tradition.
The Lord then proceeds to commend the Rechabites for their faithfulness in following the family rules, comparing their faithfulness to the unfaithfulness of the people of Judah, who refused to follow or obey the commandments of the Lord (vs. 12-16). This family faithfully obeyed a non-binding commandment their human father made, but the country, both the people, political leaders, and religious leaders turned their back on God’s laws and word, particularly in mixing worship of Him with pagan deities.
God contrasts the Rechabites’ faithfulness with Judah’s rebellion. Though God sent prophets from the earliest days till then with Jeremiah, the people refused to listen. The Rechabites obeyed a human tradition, while Judah rejected divine revelation. The Rechabites' obedience to their family wasn’t a divide command, but a human one, and God honored them for it because it reflected a heart of submission and reverence to authority. How much more should we obey the clear commands God gives in the Scriptures! Their obedience pleased God, and so will our obedience to God’s Word today.
Scripture has always taught that obedience to God and His Word is better than sacrifice (I Samuel 15:22). Judah had the Temple, the sacrifices, and the rituals, but they lacked the heart of obedience. A genuine Christian today must not only hear God’s Word, the Bible, but also obey it (James 1:22).
Because the people of Judah refused to obey God, He declared that He was going to bring further judgment upon them (vs. 17). Nebuchadnezzar had already deported one group of people, which included some of the elite, wealthy, and well-educated youth, including Daniel. God declared there would be further judgments, as Nebuchadnezzar would return two more times, finally destroying the country and deporting the whole population, due to their faithlessness. God promised, though, that He would protect the faithful Rechabites from any harm during this time (vs. 18-19). Faithful service to God will reap His blessings. The Rechabites didn’t seek recognition, but God honored them publicly.
In closing, we see that obedience matters, even in the small things. God blessed the Rechabites for obeying their earthly father, but chastised Judah for disobeying their heavenly Father. He sees and rewards faithfulness, even when the world doesn’t. We, as believers, are called to be a faithful remnant, standing firm to God’s truth in the Bible amid a society of compromise.
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