The Faithfulness of the Rechabites
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Jeremiah 35:1-19
In chapter 34 we learned that Zedekiah was a promise-breaker. He violated his treaty with Nebuchadnezzar by making an alliance with Egypt. Then, when Nebuchadnezzar started attacking Jerusalem he freed all the Hebrew slaves but changed his mind when Egypt showed up to help.
Jeremiah 34:17 says:
“Therefore, this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming freedom, each for his fellow Hebrew and for his neighbor. I hereby proclaim freedom for you—this is the Lord’s declaration—to the sword, to plague, and to famine! I will make you a horror to all the earth’s kingdoms.
God is not happy at all with Zedekiah’s promise-breaking giving the slaves freedom and then taking it away. God is a promise-keeper and he wants his people to be like him and when they’re not they should expect discipline.
So, the point of chapter 35 is to compare the promise-braking of Judah and King Zedekiah with the promise-keeping of the Rechabites. Maybe it’s too late for Zedekiah and the Jews of his day to make the connection and repent, but it’s not too late for us.
The Rechabites were related to Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. They were nomads who lived lives separated from the other Israelites. They were kind of like the Amish of our time preferring to live away from the rest of society in order to preserve their way of life.
One historian (R. White) says of them, “The Rechabites were a family guild who worshipped God strictly after the manner of the pilgrim patriarchs, living as nearly as possible in the nomadic fashion of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
But, when the northern kingdom fell they moved south. And eventually, when it was no longer safe to live in their tents in the south, they moved into Jerusalem for protection.
Now, it’s important to note, chapter 35 is not a lesson in temperance. God isn’t necessarily approving of their lifestyle or their prohibition against alcohol. But, rather, God is praising their faithfulness to their convictions.
The Rechabites were promise-keepers. And, unlike Judah, when they made an oath, they kept it. So to illustrate this contrast God sets up a test.
Jeremiah’s Test of the Recabites (1-5)
The test is commanded by God (vs 1-2). God says to Jeremiah in verse 2:
“Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them to one of the chambers of the temple of the Lord to offer them a drink of wine.”
So that’s what Jeremiah does. He gathers all the Rechabite leaders together in the temple, puts wine before them, and offers them a drink.
Now, you can probably imagine the thoughts that went through their minds— “When in Jerusalem, do as the Jerusalemites do.” Or, “What if we offend them? Besides drinking wine isn’t a sin.” These were probably just a few of the thoughts they had and they aren’t necessarily wrong thoughts.
The Recabites’ Loyalty to Jonadab (6-11)
But Jonadab was their ancestor, their forefather, and he had commanded them not to drink wine.
Why was this commanded? Jonadab probably thought following the rule would help them stay away from Baal worship which was often accompanied with heavy drinking and worldly living.
Village Missions has a similar rule for its pastors and doesn’t allow us to drink because in many rural communities alcoholism is a rampant problem and the belief is that these communities need a leader to show them that they don’t have to drink.
You may disagree with that, but the point is, it’s what we signed up for.
For the Rechabites, while they were out in the desert it was pretty easy to obey. They didn’t have any vineyards so they didn’t have access to any wine.
But now they were in Jerusalem and Jonadab had been dead for 250 years. Circumstances were obviously different so what should they do?
But they replied, “We do not drink wine, for Jonadab, son of our ancestor Rechab, commanded, ‘You and your descendants must never drink wine.
And so they didn’t. A promise is a promise. They kept their oaths. Even though their situation had changed they were going to keep their word and that was that.
Now this was in stark contrast to the promise-breaking of Zedekiah and Judah.
The Rebuke to Judah (12-17)
Notice the contrasts:
1. The Rechabites obeyed a fallible leader (v.14); but Judah’s leader was the eternal God (cf. Mal 1:6). How much more should they have obeyed God?
2. Jonadab gave his commands to the Rechabites only once; but God repeatedly sent his messages to his people (v.15).
3. The restrictions that bound the Rechabites did not deal with eternal issues but God’s messages to his people had eternal implications. How much more should his people pay attention?
4. The Rechabites obeyed the commands of Jonadab for about three hundred years; but the Lord’s people constantly disobeyed (v.16).
5. The loyalty of the Recabites would be rewarded; but the disloyalty God’s people would be punished (v.17).
God points out these contrasts to bring shame on the people of Judah.
In our culture we don’t like the idea of shame. I remember one time I said “shame on you to one of my students” and the next thing I knew I was talking with a parent who was upset not about what their child did wrong but about my use of those “awful” words.
In our country there is a belief that no one should ever be made to feel shame because of all-important self-esteem. But in this section of scripture God is using shame to impress upon his people just how bad they are.
And the main problem with Judah was they didn’t want to listen. Have you ever told a child, or anyone for that matter, a truth but they refused to listen. Maybe what you told them was logical, biblical, and verified by your own experience but the person you were talking to just didn’t care.
Or, more seriously, maybe we are that person who won’t listen.
Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.”
Throughout the gospels, Jesus says, “He who has ears, let him hear” which is not just some generic statement for “hey, everybody pay attention.” Jesus is calling for people to take careful heed and do what he says.
James 1:22 tells us to be doers of the word, not just hearers only. Remember, when we became Christians we made commitments to follow Jesus and to do what he says. How’s that going? Our we still growing and making progress or was our promise short-lived and now we’re back to doing the same old things we used to do?
In regards to making ill-thought-out promises Jesus told his disciples to “let our 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and our 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
But there are times when making well-considered Christian oaths and vows are appropriate. For example, wedding vows, oaths of office, and oaths of membership in churches are all good promises to make.
I’m sure there are others, but the point is we promises are good and we should always do our very best to keep them and if we do there is a great reward.
The Recabites’ Reward (18-19)
The Recabites were faithful to their ancestor Jonadab so God promised to reward them.
One of the reasons God promised to bless the Rechabites was for honoring their father. Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” And that’s what the Rechabites were doing. They were honoring their father Jonadab by taking their promises and seriously.
So God blessed them and Jeremiah 35:19 gives us the specific blessing:
this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a man to stand before me always.’ ”
Jonadab’s descendents would always be in God’s presence. Every Christian parent wants that blessing for their children—to be in God’s presence.
The word “stand” in verse 19 can also also be translated “serve” and there’s some who believe that perhaps the blessing is referring to Jonadab’s descendents becoming a part of the tribe of Levi and serving as levitical priests.
Interestingly, I’m told there are records still in existence that would indicate the Recabites are still living in the East.
What exactly became of them we don’t know for sure but we do know that God keeps his promises and he blesses those who keep their promises and who listen to his voice.
As God’s children we need to be good listeners. We need to listen to his word and to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to confess our sins. We should be quick to listen, but not just to listen only, we need to also do what we hear God saying. Then God will call us good and faithful servants.