Part One
THE FAITHFUL RECHABITES
Jeremiah 35
“…I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear…” (Jeremiah 25:3-4 NAS)
How many of you can say amen when you hear a parent say to their children, “I’ve told you time and time again. When will you hear? Can’t you understand what I’m saying?” I bet you’ve said the same thing to your children. Well, we’re all in good company, God said the same thing to His children down through the halls of history. And the result was always the same—rewards when they listened and consequences when they didn’t.
Biblical scholars tell us when God repeats something once it’s important, but when He repeats it over and over again—we’d better listen. And obey. The folks in Jeremiah’s day flat refused God’s warning. But don’t we do the same thing today? Filling the churches on Sunday, yet leaning to our own understanding the rest of the week?
The 35th Chapter of Jeremiah records the account of a family called the Rechabites. The father’s name was Jonadab who was the son of Rechab. By all accounts this family was tight. Rechab set the standard and the sons obeyed—as did their wives, children, and grandchildren.
What a novel occurrence–even in that day!
I read the chapter, and read it again. I needed to know more about these Rechabites. What prompted this father-leader and what caused the sons and their families to listen? Was he a warrior? A brutal man who demanded obedience? But it appears this was a family of scribes. A family whose grandfather was witness to the cleansing of Israel from Baal worship and the slaying of Ahab, Jezebel, and those who followed this despicable idol. You can find the history in 2 Kings 9 and 10. (Probably around 841 B.C.)
Can you imagine the conversations around the campfires at night? This scribe-father instructed his sons and their families to drink no wine, to build no houses, to sow no seed, nor plant vineyards, and to live in tents—and through generations they obeyed.
God told Jeremiah to invite these Rechabite men to the temple in Jerusalem, sometime probably around 609-606 B.C. and give them wine to drink. What? Would God do something like that to trick ’em? No. This was a test, to be used for an example. And these fathers passed with flying colors.
Would you?
Inside the pomp and circumstance of the temple chambers this family refused Jeremiah’s offer of wine and gave testimony to what they’d been taught. And God used them as a living example of obedience to His disobedient people in Judah.
God gave Jeremiah these words to speak to the inhabitants of Jerusalem:
“Will you not receive instruction by listening to My words? The words of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are observed. So they do not drink wine to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again; yet you have not listened to Me” (Jeremiah 35:13-14 NAS).
And God pronounced judgment for His people’s disobedience. Total disaster! In 605 B.C., the King of Babylon first invaded Judah and carried 5,000 captives to Babylon.
But to the house of the Rechabites, for their obedience to listen and obey their fathers, God promised His reward: “Jonadab, the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before me always.”
Folks, “always” means forever. We shall see all these sons of Rechab, standing before the Lord. Generations of them during the Millennium, in the New Heavens and Earth. Wouldn’t you love to hear that promise as a reward for your obedience? God’s gift to your children and grandchildren? During these days of great deception and falling away from the Word of God, what are the chances?
Slim to none if we don’t set our hearts, minds, and souls to listen and obey the Word of God. Every word He has spoken to you and to me over and over again—through His written Word, through His prophets, and preachers—through His Spirit. Maybe through your parents and grandparents, but especially through His Only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who told us:
“I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, BUT THROUGH ME” (John 14:6 NAS).
* * *
Part Two Wednesday: SLICING, DICING, AND BURNING, Jeremiah 36
MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES 
Hi, DiAnn:
I spent a part of yesterday afternoon praying for my adult children and hearing myself asking God to give them an insatiable appetite for His Word. Oh, how I long for them to walk that straight and narrow path and make decisions that will be smack in God’s will. And here, you write about this very thing today! I take it as a warning because I, too, want to pass the tests that come!
God bless,
Mary
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I listened last night and through this morning to the comments on FB from people I know who love the Lord, yet who were talking about the wonderful performance from that gaga person. We are a deceived nation, a divided nation, unable to to perceive truth and convey it. Your prayer is a like prayer I ask for my children and grandchildren. This sure isn’t the world we were raised in, Mary. May we all pass the test like Jonadab’s family.
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DiAne, I must admit I’ve never paid attention to the Rechabites. Sounds like their story is something I need to listen to. Looking forward to the next stories also. You always teach me something I need to know.
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We are studying Jeremiah in Precept right now…it’s like reading the newspaper or listening to the news. Sure jars me from apathy.
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Diane,
I don’t know if you will remember me. My name is Eric Petersen, I am a father of seven children and we met you along with my beautiful wife Angie, at an abortion rally in Austin a few years ago. You took some pictures of us and the kids which you’ve used on your blog several times.
I remembered how sweet you were with the kids and agreed to let you use the pictures in your blog. I have been reading your blog ever since.
The reason I am trying to contact you is because we have another opportunity to get as many people as we can for another rally against abortion! This time we want to completely abolish abortion!
I was hoping you could tell your church ( I think y’all had a really big group at the last one) and maybe you could mention it on your blog. We really need alot of support for this bill.
I am going to send a couple of emails with a flyer and more info. If you could give me an email address to send it to.
What a blessing it would be to rid the state of Texas from this evil. And maybe set the standard for the rest of the country.
I hope to hear back from you.
In Christ alone, Eric On Feb 6, 2017 12:31, “MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES” wrote:
> dianegates posted: ” > Part One THE FAITHFUL > RECHABITES > Jeremiah 35 “…I have spoken to you again and again, but you hav” >
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Eric, I do remember you all and your sweet children. Yes. Please send me information and I will post on my website as well get the word out to our church group. Please send me a jpeg if you have a picture and anything else to dianegates@sbcglobal.net. I look forward to seeing you again. Thank you for reading my blog. Writing is a lonely business and it sure helps to know someone is reading and listening! May God continue to bless you and your precious family.
DiAne
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Diane, as usual, I am amazed at how you bring the Bible to life through passages I have flown by as in this one of Jonadab. How many times I have read through the Bible and not paused to draw upon its true significance. Yet, the Lord has been gracious to me in instilling the lesson of the Rechabites and their faithfulness to God.
Just yesterday, I was doing rewrites in my latest book in progress. Concerning my challenges as a single mother raising my children alone, I reflected on God’s goodness: “I was most grateful that my children, with ample opportunities when I was absent, never misbehaved or brought any shame upon themselves or me. Dedicated very young to God’s Kingdom, they’ve never strayed from their faith or practice.” All praises be to Him!
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Judy, I’m always honored when you read and respond to my blogs. Like you, I read over these words so many times, but in our Precept study of Jeremiah, we were instructed just to read and ponder these five chapters. No questions, just read and reread. I was amazed when I asked the Lord to show me what He wanted me to learn from Chapters 35 through 39 the abundance of lessons applicable to all of us today. I will be writing on Chapter 36 tonight…reward or consequence? You’ll have to wait and see. Any hint about your latest book, or do we have to wait? ❤
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