Transcript The Rechabites - Joaquin church of Christ

• This evening I would like for us to consider one of
Jeremiah’s 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 Jeremiah’s challenge to a group of
people known as the Rechabites. Jeremiah
35:1‐19…
• If a bunch of people can so strongly follow the
centuries‐old tradition handed down to them by
their ancestors, then God’s people ought to also be
able to listen to God in His word. This is the central
thought.
“Sinful Census”
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.
“Sinful Census”
• 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 God’s 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 refused—all because they were committed
to the principles that had been laid down by their
“Sinful Census”
ancestors.
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 God’s message to the people (in verse 13),
“Will you not receive instruction by listening to My
words?”
“Sinful Census”
• 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? God’s message comes in the middle of
verse 15, “Turn now every man from his evil way
“Sinful Census”
and amend your deeds.”
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
“Sinful Census”
586 BC.
– In the fine print concerning the rebuilding of the
wall, the Bible says in Nehemiah 3:14, “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 14:23, “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 5:8), that “having
been made perfect, [Jesus] became to all those who
obey Him the source of eternal salvation.”
“Sinful Census”
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?
“Sinful Census”