Jeremiah 35:12-15

B. The Faithlessness of the Jews Jeremiah 35:12-15

TRANSLATION

(12) And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying, (13) Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the man of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Will you not accept correction to obey My words (oracle of the LORD)? (14) The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons that they drink no wine, have been carried out. Unto this day they drink no wine, because they obeyed the commandment of their father. But I have spoken unto you earnestly and persistently; yet you have not hearkened unto Me! (15) With urgency and persistency I sent unto you all My servants the prophets who said, Turn please each man from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, then you shall continue to dwell in the land which I gave to you and to your fathers; but you would not pay any attention or obey Me.

COMMENTS

The presence of an eccentric group like the Rechabites in the Temple area must have created quite a sensation in Jerusalem. No doubt a crowd quickly assembled in the courtyard outside the chamber of the sons of Hanan. Apparently Jeremiah left the chamber where the demonstration had taken place and went out to address the people in the Temple court. He minces no words as he drives home the spiritual lesson. Pointedly God asks through His messenger, -Will you not receive instruction to hearken to My words? Will you not learn from the Rechabites the lesson of obedience to My word? (Jeremiah 35:13). For over 200 years the Rechabite clan had obeyed the command of a dead ancestor even though his commandment was merely a matter of human judgment. But time and again the living God had spoken to His people, yet they had ignored or deliberately disobeyed His commandments (Jeremiah 35:14). Again and again God had sent unto them prophets who pleaded with the rebellious people to repent and turn from idolatry and who promised them that they could continue to dwell in their land if they would only hearken to the voice of God. But the people had refused to hearken and on occasion actually had reviled and ridiculed the servants of God (Jeremiah 35:15). They had persisted in their rebellion against the Lord.