The Rechabites

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The Rechabites
Jeremiah 35
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• This evening I would like for us to consider one
  of Jeremiahs most unusual illustrations as God
  tells Jeremiah to offer wine to a family who had
  maintained a commitment to abstain from alcohol
  for at least the past 250 years.
• The account of Jeremiahs challenge to a group of
  people known as the Rechabites. Jeremiah 351-19
  
• If a bunch of people can so strongly follow the
  centuries-old tradition handed down to them by
  their ancestors, then Gods people ought to also
  be able to listen to God in His word. This is the
  central thought.

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FAMILY LEGACY OF OBEDIENCE

• Jonadab made his descendants promise that they
  would not drink alcohol, that they would live in
  tents, that they would not plant crops, and that
  they would not plant any vineyards.
• In a time when people were putting their trust in
  riches and large fortified houses, and in a time
  when people were getting drunk all around them,
  the descendants of Jonadab, the Rechabites, stood
  alone.

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• But the prophet Jeremiah brings them into an
  inner chamber of the temple, he takes what must
  have been the finest wine in the land (the best
  of the best that had been given to the priests),
  he puts the wine in large bowls or pitchers, he
  puts some cups out there, and then he tells them
  that they are to take a drink
• And yet they say No to Gods prophet, because
  250 years in the past their family took a solemn
  vow that they would not.
• He put the wine on the table, he gave them cups,
  but they refusedall because they were committed
  to the principles that had been laid down by
  their ancestors.

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GOD MAKES A STATEMENT

• Here is this family demonstrating loyal obedience
  to their ancestor who has been dead for hundreds
  of years, and yet you (the nation of Israel)
  refuse to listen to Me, Your God who continually
  sends you My servants and My prophets.
• Notice Gods message to the people (in verse 13),
  Will you not receive instruction by listening to
  My words?

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• The Bible tells us that he was zealous, that he
  worked to rid the nation of idolatry way back
  when. He came up with a plan for preventing his
  family and his descendants from being sucked in
  by the evils of the world. He was a great man, he
  was a great leader, but Jonadab was just a man,
  those restrictions were not inspired.
• So here were the Rechabites being faithful to
  Jonadab, but the people of Israel had rejected
  the Lord, who was so much more than Jonadab.
• And what is the message? What does God want the
  people to do? Gods message comes in the middle
  of verse 15, Turn now every man from his evil
  way and amend your deeds.

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THE RECHABITES WILL BE REWARDED FOR THEIR EXAMPLE
OF OBEDIENCE.

• Jeremiah delivers a message directly from God to
  the Rechabites, Thus says the LORD of hosts, the
  God of Israel, Because you have obeyed the
  command of Jonadab your father, kept all his
  commands 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
  always.
• Remember This account takes place shortly before
  the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians
  in 586 BC.

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• In the fine print concerning the rebuilding of
  the wall, the Bible says in Nehemiah 314,
  Malchijah the son of Rechab, the official of the
  district of Beth-haccherem repaired the Refuse
  Gate. He built it and hung its doors with its
  bolts and its bars.
• Just as God promised, many years later the
  descendants of Rechab were still around, they
  were still active, and they were still obedient
  to God.
• As Jesus said in John 1423, If anyone loves Me,
  he will keep My word and My Father will love
  him, and We will come to him and make Our abode
  with him. Or, as in (from Hebrews 58), that
  having been made perfect, Jesus became to all
  those who obey Him the source of eternal
  salvation.

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Conclusion

• We have considered A PEOPLE WHO PROCLAIMED AND
  PRACTICED PRINCIPLES FOR A PROTRACTED PERIOD,
  EVEN IN THE PRESENCE OF A PROVOCATIVE PROPOSAL
  FROM A POWERFUL PROPHET.
• Where will we be in the year 2260?
• Where will our descendants be 250 years from now?
  
• Will our descendants be able to look back in
  history at our example of obedience to the
  gospel? Will they be inspired by that?