The Rechabites

Monday, August 23, 2010: Jeremiah 35:1 – 2 (NKJV)

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, “Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.”

Background: Israel worshipped idols in violation of the first and second commandments God gave them.

What could have happened to the Rechabites? Drunk in God’s temple.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010: Jeremiah 35:6 – 7 (NKJV)

But they said, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever. You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have any of these; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.’

What did Jonadab the son of Rechab tell his children to do? Abstain from wine and trust God’s provision so that they live long in the promised land.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010: Jeremiah 35:8 – 10 (NKJV)

Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed. But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.

What did the children of Rechab do? They faithfully obeyed their forefather’s command.

Thursday, August 26, 2010: Jeremiah 35:11 (NKJV)

But it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, ‘Come, let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and for fear of the army of the Syrians.’ So we dwell at Jerusalem.”

But what were they doing now? Without disobedience and still faithful, they lived within the safety of the walls of Jerusalem.

Friday, August 27, 2010: Jeremiah 35:18 – 19 (NKJV)

And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever.”’”

What was God’s reward to the Rechabites? Their family name would never perish from the world. More importantly, children are God’s gifts to the obedient. This doesn’t mean that the opposite will be true: if you disobey, you will not have children.