Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 35-37
Jeremiah 35:2
Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.
What would you do? Or, have you ever heard of the Rechabites? Either of these phrases would be an enticing introduction to this devotional thought. Both will be explored.
The Rechabites were the offspring of Jonadab, the son of Rechab. He commanded his family that they should never drink wine, ever. Also, he commanded them to dwell in tents, not build houses, nor sow seed or plant a vineyard. In verse 8 they told Jeremiah that as they have obeyed the voice of their fathers that they would continue to obey their commands. For their promise was that if they obeyed these rules, they would live many days. Imagine, children obeying that which their father and grandfather told them. In this day and age this is almost unheard of. “It’s my life, my father has no right to command me to do anything, not when I’m young, and certainly not when I’m older and on my own.” That seems to be the mantra today.
But the Rechabites did exactly that, they obeyed their father. So much so that when Jeremiah, the prophet of God, brought them into the temple, and set wine in front of them, and told them to drink the wine. They said no! They said no to the man of God. That probably took courage, boldness, and confidence. God used the Rechabites to demonstrate to Judah that they should have done likewise. They should have obeyed the voices of their forefathers. Jeremiah commended them, and condemned Judah both at once. Notice verse 15 and 16.
If Israel had obeyed God’s commands as given to the leaders of Israel (Moses on) Jerusalem would not have been besieged for eighteen months by the Babylonians (December 588 to July 586 BC/chapters 37-38). Because the Rechabites obeyed the commands of their father they were promised a man of them would stand before the Lord in perpetuity (see 35:19).
So, let’s return from where we began. What would you do? Obey your father? I almost wrote “Obey your God?” But that is inferred. For everyone obeys their God/god. If it be God of creation, or a god of their making, people always obey that which their God/god demands. Judah obeyed the gods of other people and the gods of their hands which are commonly called idols. The Rechabites chose the good path, they chose the path of obedience from their forefathers. Which was probably inspired by Rechab who evidently was influenced by Elijah and Elisha during the days of their revivals. He also lived in the lap of sinful luxuries of the day stemming from the vices of Jezebel and Ahab. He learned the right way, passed it on to his son Jonadab who passed it on to his progeny, who continued in the right way for approximately 250 years.
Who were the Rechabites, they were faithful examples to unfaithful Israel.
What would you do? That is yet to be written.
Dr. William T. Howe
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