The Lord says:
"Teach My people the lesson about obedience. Bring back the teaching on obedience. Obedience to what I have spoken, commanded, and instructed."
This may not be a popular topic, but this is a necessary topic in this time and season. So, we shall go straight to Jeremiah chapter 35 about the Rechabites. What are the lessons we can learn from this chapter? Not many people teach about the Rechabites, but today, let's dig in to the Word of God and learn something about the Rechabites.
So, who are the Rechabites?
For the record, they are a clan among the Israelites who were deeply committed those days. They were strongly opposed to idolatry and the worship of Baal those days. They stayed true to what their father has spoken to them, and they obeyed, and they heeded. In the end, the Lord honored them.
Further info about the Rechabites. They basically lived a nomadic life. They moved from place to place. They lived in tents, instead of in any permanent place. Now, this is a 'picture' of each of us being sojourners on this earth. You know that this world is merely temporary. Our permanent home and destination is heaven. So, we are all, in a way, like the Rechabites.
Let's go all the way to Jeremiah 35:12-13. Then came the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "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.'"
The word 'obey' here is 'shama' in Hebrew. It can be defined as 'to hear attentively', or 'to give ear and act on it'.
Jeremiah said further to the men of Judah in Jeremiah 35:15. "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 know what? Jeremiah said further, "But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me."
Looking at the verses here, this was a rebuke from the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah against the people those days.
Now, look at what prophet Jeremiah said about the Rechabites in contrast. Jeremiah 35:16 says, "Surely the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them..."
So here, Jeremiah was contrasting between the people in general and the Rechabites those days. The people in general did not turn from their evil ways and did not obey the Lord's instruction. But the Rechabites stayed faithful. They stayed true and pure to what has been spoken to them by their father. They lived a life free from idolatry and corruption, which was prevalent those days. In short, they held on to what their father Jonadab said to them. In fact, once, they were invited to drink wine, but they declined, because of the words of their father. Now, the point here is not about drinking wine or not. But the point here is obedience to what has been spoken to them. Because of this, Jeremiah pointed to their obedience, in contrast to the people at large those days.
This obedience of the Rechabites was a huge contrast to others who refused to hear and listen to the instructions of the Lord. Now, that was the point of prophet Jeremiah in chapter 35 here. He was lamenting about the compromise of the people those days. He was calling for the people to return to the ways of the Lord, but the people didn't. So, he used the examples of the Rechabites, because the Rechabites were found obedient, pure, and faithful, even in a time of widespread corruption and idolatry among the people of God at that time.
And prophet Jeremiah mentioned later that the Lord honored the Rechabites. In other words, the Lord rewarded the Rechabites. Look here now at Jeremiah 35:18-19. 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, 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.'"
Jeremiah pointed out that these Rechabites received their instructions and commands from their father just one time, and they obeyed. How about the others? The others who were in the land received their instructions and commands from the Lord again and again, but still they disobeyed and never listened.
So here, the Lord used the faithfulness and obedience of the Rechabites to teach an important lesson to His people in general. And you know what? The Rechabites were therefore rewarded by the Lord. The Lord even promised that they would have a special standing forever. Many Bible scholars and historians believe some of the earliest believers of Christ, and some of the most responsive in receiving the good news of Jesus Christ, some 2,000 years ago, were the descendants of the Rechabites. Wow! They were some of the earliest who preached the gospel and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever they went! Indeed, these words came to pass, that 'there shall not lack a man standing before the Lord forever'.
By the way, interestingly, 'Jonadab' means 'YHWH is willing'. Yes, indeed, the Lord your God is willing to grant to you exceedingly abundantly above all you ask or think of, if you hearken to His words and heed His instructions! Whatever He says, you do. And He will surely know how to prosper you and lead you to better things to come!
So, in these days of compromise and widespread corruption in this world, we can learn to be like the Rechabites. We can stay pure to God's Word. We can stay true to God's Word. We can stay faithful to what He has spoken for us to be and to do. And we shall see better days ahead of us. Amen!
Let's do some cross-references now. You see, the Rechabites here actually is a 'picture' of Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus obeyed till the very end. Jesus obeyed whatever His Father says. We can follow Jesus' example. As He is, so are we in this world!
The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:5-8. 'Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, He did not consider it robbery to be equal with God (it means 'He did not consider it as something to be held on to'), but He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.'
It means Jesus was obedient to His Father till the very end. The word 'obedient' here is 'hupekoos' in Greek. It can mean 'to attentively heed and listen to'. It can mean 'to submit (in word and in action)'.
Philippians 2:9-11. And here's the reward. 'Therefore God also has highly exalted Jesus, and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'
This brings glory to God the Father. So, as you walk in obedience to what He has spoken for you to be and to do, you too are bringing glory to God the Father.
Another cross-reference. John 14:23. In the words of Jesus. Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them." Hallelujah!
The word 'obey' here is 'tereo' in Greek. It can mean 'to fulfill an instruction, to follow, to hold fast to (i.e. to continue to believe in or adhere to His instructions)'. The word 'tereo' can also mean 'to guard (His words from escaping)'. Yes, set your eyes on His words, and never let these words of God escape from you. The word 'tereo' can also mean 'to walk accordingly (in His instruction and His way)'.
So, as you hold fast to His words for you, as you guard His words, and as you walk according to His instruction and His way for you, the Lord will know how to come to you and make His home with you. His presence will be with you. He will be before you and behind you. He will watch over you. He will guard you. And therefore, there's nothing that you should be afraid on this earth. And this is a reward of your obedience to His teaching, His words, and His instructions.
Another cross-reference. Deuteronomy 5:33. 'Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.'
Now, this is not what I say, but this is what the Lord says in the Scripture. 'So that you will live and prosper and prolong your days'. Yes, wherever the Lord puts you, wherever the Lord calls you to be, whatever the Lord calls you to do, be obedient to His calling for your life. When He says move, you move. When He says stop, you stop. As He moves, you move. As He stops, you stop. And that's how you are going to live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that the Lord gives to you!
Another cross-reference. Psalm 128:1-2. 'Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.'
Again, you see the word 'obedience' here. You see, the Scripture is consistent, both in the Old and the New Testament. The Scripture is consistent about the reward of obedience to what the Lord has spoken.
And that's how, beloved, you'll be sure to see many good days ahead of you. You know why? Because the Lord knows you better and sees further. The Lord knows what is best for you. The Lord always wants the best for you. And that is why He is willing... Yes, YHWH is willing, like the name Jonadab that we have learned just now, YHWH is willing... He is willing to show you His revelations and instructions; so that when you follow, something great will begin to happen to you. Amen! Hallelujah!
This is the gist of His message for you today. So, obedience is not to tie you up. Far from it. But obedience is to prosper you all the days of your life; not just materially, but in your soul, and also in every aspect of your life. I believe the Lord is saying today that the key for you to have greater things ahead of you is obedience.
Let us pray:
"O Lord God, we can learn from the Rechabites and from Jesus Himself about obedience. Teach us Your ways and guide us every step of the way. We want to be found faithful and obedient to Your words. We want to be found faithful and obedient to Your instructions and Your commands. As You say so, we say so. As You say no, we say no. Teach us to hear attentively to Your words and to heed Your words. We submit to You, O Lord. We yield to You, O Lord. We allow You to purify us and cleanse us by the water of Your Word. Teach us to be the person You want us to be. Like the Rechabites. Like Jesus Himself. And we shall see our rewards. And we shall see many good days ahead of us. In Jesus' name. Amen."
