Jeremiah Lesson Six: The Rechabites Reading: Jeremiah 35 I Outline of the Reading n spite of God’s contsant pleading with the Israelites to turn back to Him, the Israelites continued to 1. The Command ( 35:1 – 2) disregard the commands of their Lord. Israel’s deep betrayal is exposed in a 2. The Offer (35:3 - 5) new light in Jeremiah 35 by a living parable of the loyalty of an obscure 3. The Response ( 35:6 – 11) sect of Kenite people known as the Rechabites. 4. The Contrast (35:12 – 17) The Command 5. The Blessing (35:18 – 19) What was Jeremiah commanded to do in v1 -2? The History of the Rechabite People To whom did the Rechabite people trace their lineage? ( cf. Jer. 35:6,8,10; 1 Chron. 2:55) Who were the Kenites? ( cf. 1 Chron. 2:55; Judges 1:16) Who was Jethro? What did Jethro do for Israel? ( Exodus 18)
Which king was Jonadab known for assisting in battle? ( cf. 2 Kings 10:15 – 17) What was the goal of this particular king ? ( cf. 2 Kings 9:7 – 9; 10:18 – 27) Read Jer. 35:6 – 11. What were some of the traditions of the Rechabites? Why might Jonadab have instructed his children to maintain the traditions found in Jer. 35:6 – 11? What seems most likely to you? Explain. Why did the Rechabites come to live in/around Jerusalem? ( see Jer. 35:11) The Offer Was Jeremiah placing a stumbling block before the Rechabites by offering them wine to drink? Was God tempting them? Explain ( consider Romans 14:13, 21; Luke 17:1 – 2; James 1:13 in your answer) .
What do you believe Jeremiah was expecting the Rechabites to do with his offer? Explain. The Response Why was Jeremiah’s command refused by the “Will you not receive Rechabites? instruction and listen to my words? declares the LORD. The command that Jonadab the son of How had the Rechabites obedience to their Rechab gave to his ancestor helped them in the past? (cf. Jer. 35:11) sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, for they have obeyed their father’s The Contrast How did the obedience of the Rechabites command. I have serve as a living parable for the Israelites? spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me.” How did God persistently speak to the -Jer. 35:14 Israelites? How does this contrast to Jonadab and his people? How can we imitate the obedience of the Rechabites? What is involved in obedience? ( consider 35:13 – 15 in your answer) The Blessing What blessing did the Rechabites receive for their obedience to their father ( 35:19) ?
Readings for Meditation A man once took his son out to a piece of land and said, “I’ll give you this farm if you’ll build a house and barn on it and dig a well. I want the house over there, the barn built here, and the well out beyond the barn. The son quickly agreed and was soon working. He built the house and barn where the father indicated, but when he came to the well he got to thinking that it would be more convenient to have it between the house and barn, so he changed its location. In time the father came to inspect the wor k and the boy pointed out how he’d done such a good job, but he was shocked when the father said, “I’m sorry that I won’t be able to give you the farm. You didn’t do what I asked.” The boy insisted that he had since he’d built both the house and barn where the father had indicated. All he had changed was the well. “No,” the father said. “you didn’t do one thing that I wanted done. You did what you wanted. You built the house there because you wanted it there, and the same way with the barn. It just happened that I selected the places you wanted. The reason I know that is that when it came to the well and it wasn’t where you wanted it – you changed it.” “ Men's love to men condemns their lovelessness towards God. These Rechabites witnessed to the power of loyal love to their ancestor. Think of the wealth of love which we have all poured out on husbands, wives, parents, children, and of the few drops that we have diverted to flow towards God. What a full flood fills the one channel; what a shrunken stream the other! Think of the infinitely stronger reasons for loving God than for loving our dearest. ” Alexander Maclaren “ The constancy of His care, the longsuffering nature of His love, and the fidelity of His fatherhood should capture our interest in His every directive. As the Ruler of the universe, He could demand [obedience], but as a loving Father He longs to hear an obedient response that so seldom has come. ” Dayton Keesee Truth for Today Commentary: Jeremiah
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