Jer 35:18 | KingComments | STEP | We now hear the LORD’s appreciation of obedience to the word of the parents ( ). The Rechabites, says the LORD, have been obedient to Jonadab’s command in everything. Because of this complete faithfulness, He promises that Jonadab will always have a descendant, a man, to serve Him ( ). Serving God is the true life. It recalls the call for children to obey their parents in everything ( ). The reward for them is long life in the land ( ), which for us means enjoying the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places all the time we are on earth and the eternity that follows. If we summarize the differences between the Rechabites and God’s people, we see that 1. the Rechabites obey a fallible leader, while the Leader of Judah is the eternal, infallible God ( ); 2. the Rechabites receive a command from Jonadab only once, while the LORD has spoken to His people time and time again ( ); 3. the Rechabites obeyed Jonadab’s commands for about 300 years, while God’s people continually disobeyed ( ); 4. the faithfulness of the Rechabites will be rewarded, while the unfaithfulness of God’s people will be punished ( ).

‏ Jeremiah 35:18

Reward for the Rechabites

We now hear the LORD’s appreciation of obedience to the word of the parents (Jer 35:18). The Rechabites, says the LORD, have been obedient to Jonadab’s command in everything. Because of this complete faithfulness, He promises that Jonadab will always have a descendant, a man, to serve Him (Jer 35:19). Serving God is the true life. It recalls the call for children to obey their parents in everything (Col 3:20). The reward for them is long life in the land (Eph 6:1-3), which for us means enjoying the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places all the time we are on earth and the eternity that follows.

If we summarize the differences between the Rechabites and God’s people, we see that

1. the Rechabites obey a fallible leader, while the Leader of Judah is the eternal, infallible God (Jer 35:14);

2. the Rechabites receive a command from Jonadab only once, while the LORD has spoken to His people time and time again (Jer 35:15);

3. the Rechabites obeyed Jonadab’s commands for about 300 years, while God’s people continually disobeyed (Jer 35:16);

4. the faithfulness of the Rechabites will be rewarded, while the unfaithfulness of God’s people will be punished (Jer 35:17).