Example of the Obedient Rechabites

Jeremiah 35:1-19 

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 2 "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."

3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, his brothers and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites, 4 and I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door. 5 Then I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, "Drink wine."

6 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. 7 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.' 8 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, 9 nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed. 10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11 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."

12 Then came the word of the LORD to Jeremiah, saying, 13 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, "Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?" says the LORD. 14 "The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father's commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me. 15 I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, 'Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.' But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me. 16 Surely the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, but this people has not obeyed Me."'

17 "Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the doom that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them but they have not heard, and I have called to them but they have not answered.'"

18 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, 19 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."'"

The obedient Rechabites listened to their father Jonadab to live apart from the rest of disobedient Judah by not indulging in houses or any permanent thing as long as God’s people were being disciplined by temporary bondage in Babylon.  They waited for the city and dwelling of God to come as promised, a shadow and picture of our heavenly kingdom promised us in Christ as Abraham had done (Hebrews 11:9-10, 16).  As sojourners and pilgrims (1 Peter 2:11-12) we imitate their example to wait for what city He will provide for our permanent residence.  The Rechabites waited for the earthly Jerusalem as we await the Celestial City to come down from heaven where we will worship God also, but in His very presence!  God had sent prophets like Jeremiah who rose early to give enough time of warning speeches to the people, but few listened except the Rechabites who are a picture and type of believers in Christ the Branch of our righteousness.  The road is narrow leading to life for those given ears to hear and wide to destruction for those who refuse to hear.  The judgment therefore fell on all Judah who rejected the words of life (Acts 5:20) when He called but the obedient ones who listened and acted by faith were guaranteed a legacy and inheritance in the LORD.  The gospel call is to do as John 6:29 tells to do God’s work of faith in what He sent the prophets and the final prophet Jesus the Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2) in believing and receiving, not rejecting, His word (John 1:12) like the Rechabites had done.  Faith and grace abound in God’s calling and work for His people as we see here and in the larger picture of the narrow path to life in eternity before the face of our our God at last.