Jeremiah 35:12 - Meaning and Application

The test of the Rechabites’ faithfulness was meant to be a sign, and now we come to its lesson. Their obedience to their father becomes a way to expose Judah’s disobedience to God. The prophet asks Judah, in God’s name, “Will you not ever learn?” (Jeremiah 35:13). Will nothing reach you, move you, or teach you your duty and your sin?

Look at the Rechabites, he says, and see how they obeyed their father’s command (Jeremiah 35:14). Yet you would have had far more reason to obey God than they had to obey Jonadab, the ancestor who gave them their rule. The shame is greater because the Rechabites obeyed a mere man, with only human wisdom and power, their father in the flesh. But Judah disobeyed the eternal God, who has full authority over them as the Father of their spirits.

The shame is greater still because Jonadab was long dead and could not watch over them or punish them. God, however, lives forever, sees whether his laws are kept, and is ready to punish disobedience. The Rechabites were never continually reminded of their duty, but God kept sending prophets to his people to remind them. He had spoken himself, rising early and speaking, through his word and through conscience (Jeremiah 35:14). He also sent all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but it made no difference (Jeremiah 35:15).

There is more to the contrast. Jonadab never did for his family what God had done for his people. He gave them a command, but no inheritance to make obedience easy. God had given his people a good land and promised they would keep it if they obeyed. So they were bound by gratitude and by self-interest to listen, yet they would not hear. God’s people also were not asked to endure such strict hardship or such acts of self-denial as the Rechabites were, and yet Jonadab’s orders were kept while God’s were ignored.

Judgment is therefore announced again against Judah and Jerusalem, because their disobedience is so much worse. The Rechabites will stand up in judgment against them and condemn them, because they carefully kept their father’s command and held to it steadily (Jeremiah 35:16). But this rebellious and stubborn people did not listen to God. Since they would not obey his commands, he will carry out his warnings, bringing on them by the Chaldean army all the evil spoken against them in the law and the prophets (Jeremiah 35:17). He had spoken to them and called to them in every way, through his word and through his providence, but they did not listen or answer.

Yet mercy is promised to the Rechabites because they stayed faithful together to the rule of their house. Their loyalty was only tested to put Judah to shame, but since they stood firm, it became something God praised and honored. He takes this moment to promise them lasting good (Jeremiah 35:18, Jeremiah 35:19). Their family will continue as long as the families of Israel among whom they lived as strangers and sojourners.

They would never lack a descendant to inherit what little they had, though they owned no land to pass on. Sometimes those with the smallest means have the largest families. The same God who gives mouths to feed will also provide food. More than that, religion will continue in their line. They will never lack someone to stand before God and serve him.

They were not priests or Levites, and they do not seem to have held a place in the temple service. Still, by their steady life of devotion, they stood before God to minister to him. The greatest blessing a family can have is for God’s worship to continue in it from one generation to the next. And temperance, self-denial, and turning away from worldly comforts greatly help a life of devotion. The less we are tied to the pleasures of the senses, the more ready we are for God’s service. Nothing damages the passing on of religion in a family more than pride and luxury.