20/05/10

Testing of the Rechabites

Jeremiah 35:1,2
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.


The Lord one day put the Rechabite family to a test by making someone offer them wine. Not only giving them wine but giving them wine by a representative of the temple in the sacred place of the House of the Lord.

The Rechabites were instructed by their fathers not to have wine along with other things and they abided by them all through their lives (please understand these were not contradictory to God's Word). So when they were tempted with wine they bluntly refused and this pleased God. The Lord made this an example to His people.

Even when a person who seem to represent the Lord gave them wine in a place of worship they discerned what they were given. They did not see the person who gave them nor where they were given; they did not allow these things to over write their discernment.

The Lord latter tells His people if the Rechabites can obey their fathers why do His people obey Him. The Lord, Who is our Heavenly Father, is over and above all earthly relations and authority living or dead. Are we going to listen to Him or to people who come as religious people and give us things contradictory to our Father's Word even if it is in a church? Are these things going to over write the Truth?

Have we ever compared what people say in church with what our Father says in the Word of God? Just by what they claim to be, what they wear or where they stand does not give them authority over God.

God, Who is over and above all has lifted His Word above Him, so anyone contradicting God's Word or changes it, is trying to show authority over God. If God abides by His Word so who are we to question it?

Discern what people say (who so ever they may be or who so ever they may claim to be) with the Word of God and you will have eternal life.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord Jesus, we thank You for the Word which instructs us to our salvation. By You abiding to the Word and coming as flesh showed your obedience to the Word. Even at the most difficult times You did according the will of the Father which is His Word. Lord help your people see that their life depends on the Word. If they do not live by the Word or discern things by the Word they will become victims to destruction...

This prayer we make in your mighty Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Jeremiah 35:3-17
3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;
4 And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:
5 And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.
6 But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:
7 Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.
8 Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;
9 Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:
10 But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
11 But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.
12 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
13 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.
14 The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father痴 commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.
15 I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.
16 Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me:
17 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)