Faithful tribe of Recabites

JEREMIAH    CHAPTER 35

Jeremiah received a message from the Lord to go to the settlement where the Recabites lived and invite them to the Temple and take them to the inner rooms and offer them some wine.

So Jeremiah did as the Lord told him and took Jaazaniah and all his brothers and sons who represented the Recabite families to the Temple. The room he took them to was located next to the one used by the palace officials, directly above the room of Maaseiah, son of the Temple gatekeeper.

Jeremiah set out wine, but they refused, saying that they did not drink wine because their ancestor Jehonadab, son of Recab gave them the order. This ancestor told them to never drink wine and never to build houses or plant crops, but always to live in tents.  They did as they were ordered and have lived long, good lives. But now they were afraid of  the king of Babylon and the Aramean armies, so they moved to Jerusalem.

Then Jeremiah got a message from God that he should go to the people of Judah and Jerusalem and teach them a lesson of how to obey him, like the Recabites obeyed their ancestor's rules. The Lord was angry and said the people of Israel never listened to him, so he would send disasters on them. Then Jeremiah told the Recabites that the Lord was pleased with the way they obeyed and because of this, they would always have descendants who would serve the Lord.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The Recabites code of conduct resembled that of the Nazirites who took a special vow of dedication to God. For 200 years they obeyed their ancestor's vow to abstain from wine.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Because God found a tribe that had remained committed to him, God stood by them and rewarded them. There was vivid contrast between the Recabites and the other Israelites. Not only did they obey the laws of their ancestors, but they lived in tents and yet would be rewarded and Israel would be punished.

Do you know someone who is so committed to God that he or she stands out? If so, I hope you give this person(s) much support and praise for their stance. These are the kinds of people that God can count on. This kind of person does not break a vow and he appreciates their fortitude.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our famers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.