Read Jeremiah 35
The Rekabites
35 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2 “Go to the Rekabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.”
3 So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Rekabites. 4 I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. 5 Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.”
6 But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadabson of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. 7 Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.’ 8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 9 or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, ‘Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonianand Aramean armies.’ So we have remained in Jerusalem.”
12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: 13 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. 14 ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. 15 Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me. 16 The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefathergave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’
17 “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.’”
18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what the LordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jehonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’ 19 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.’”
Go Deeper
In Jeremiah 35 God uses a very simple test to show the people of Judah and us what obedience looks like. Unfortunately for the people in Jerusalem, by God using the Rekabite Family as an example of what we should do, it also showed the disobedience of God’s people. Jeremiah is given the task of testing the Rekabite family by inviting them to a room in the temple and setting out bowls of wine and cups. The assumption might be that the family will sit down with Jeremiah and have some fellowship while drinking some wine. However, what God is doing is showing His people what obedience and trust looks like.
For many years God has been sending prophets to tell His people to stop running to other gods and trust the God that led you from bondage. Stop conforming to those around you and simply obey the commands that I, the Lord your God has given you. We see all of this plainly in verses 6-11. After Jeremiah tells the family to “Drink some wine” in verse 5. Notice that Jeremiah does not say anything such as The Lord commands you to drink some wine. He simply gives them the opportunity to conform to his request to drink some wine. Then in verses 6-11 we get to see what obedience looks like.
The Rekabites tell Jeremiah that their forefathers gave them a command to never drink wine and to live as nomads. They were to never settle down and build a house, but to live with what God provides them. What a great example to us to trust God enough to obey Him completely. This is totally opposite of what the people of Judah have done for years. They have taken every opportunity to run from God and to trust in the false gods of the land. God is giving them an example of what He wants from His people and yet for years they have turned their back on God.
As the rest of the chapter unfolds, God gives us the opportunity to see two very different actions that led to two very different outcomes. The obedient Rekabites are blessed in the land and God provides for their every need. Meanwhile, the disobedient people of Judah are awaiting the coming judgment of God. God is again pleading with His people. It’s as if He’s saying, “Please follow the example that I have set before you and I will again forgive you and take care of you. Simply trust and obey me, just like your forefathers did.” Is God pleading for your heart and trust just like the people of Judah?
Questions
- How can we apply the lessons of obedience to our life?
- How can we use this story to help us to completely obey God’s commands?
- How can we use the story in the ever changing world we live in today?
Did You Know?
The famous hymn “Trust and Obey” was written in 1886 after composer Daniel Towner heard a young man stand up at a Dwight L. Moody revival meeting and proclaim “ I am not quite sure–but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey”
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3 thoughts on “Jeremiah 35”
May we learn and apply what the Recabites demonstrated in keeping their vows. We have a covenant-keeping God who invites us into a relationship with him now and for all eternity. Why would we not dedicate every moment of our lives to be with him? I’m praying for a steadfast heart that remains committed to my Savior no matter the cost.
Yes! Amen!
13 “Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord.”
OK. I will learn a lesson and I will obey God’s words!
I read about this in another commentary and he discussed this as being “posers” or a follower. The Rekabites were followers and had been faithful, so God followed through with faithfulness to them. But Judah not so much. In which camp am I? When we try to do God’s work without Him or just follow our flesh and not His ways, we fail. BUT GOD being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in out trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5.
God does not expect us to bear sins of burdens or doubt without Him. We are to literally “cast your burdens on the Lord” (Psalm 55:22, Proverbs 16:3, 1 Peter 5:7).
Commit ourselves to God and to love His people (looking through His love goggles).
Matthew 22:37-40 NASB And He said to him, ” ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Commitment to seeking His Kingdom over our own kingdom.
Matthew 6:33 NASB “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Commitment to emptying ourselves to Jesus and the Gospel.
Mark 8:34-35 NASB And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
God thank You that I have Jesus Christ as my mediator. Thank You for being able to come to Your throne boldly at all times. God thank You for me seeing people through Your love goggles. Thank You that I can and will desire more of seeking Your kingdom here on earth in the right now minutes of my life. God I love You more, it so excites me how You are revealing Yourself to and in my life. Those WOOHOOS just want to come out. God let me not be fearful of man and such a people pleaser that You are in the background. Help me put You first so that You are over and beyond my fears. I know that You have not given me the spirit of fear, but of Love, power and a sound mind. Let me be forthright and bold in my Love for You in these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen
WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!