Jeremiah 35 Commentary
The Rekabites – a tribal grouping of Israel that lived in tents and never touched wine. Their forefather had forbidden them from owning property. They were to live in tents as nomads – very strange instructions indeed!
The LORD God is impressed with their obedience. Won’t Israel do the same?
The LORD’s message and the LORD’s example are an indictment of the saint. Silly instructions, we follow. Unproductive or even impoverishing laws, we faithfully keep. Won’t we be eager to keep God’s righteous law which brings great benefits?
It is a difficult word to use but wickedness is dumb foolishness; disobedience is irrational. Think about it again. Why did I do that? It is every man’s question whenever we sit down to reflect on our ungodly actions.
The LORD draws our attention to the extreme opposite of this kind of foolishness. It is called faith. We may not exactly know why the LORD says it but obedience it is; nothing else. Then the LORD is impressed. This level of obedience and such level of submission is heavenly. And it is not at all for nothing, irrational, or foolishness.
If it is so rational and for great benefits; if it is ever so wise, why won’t we go for it? Which sinner hasn’t wondered why they haven’t repented when doing so is the wisest, smartest, or even most beneficial decision?
Won’t obedience be for the entire family? If poverty hits the nation on account of one man’s poor decisions at the top, won’t the righteousness of one man bring benefits globally? “We and our wives, sons, and daughters, drink no wine at all.” Won’t the saint take pride in a prayer that wishes righteousness in his entire family? And let it run through generations!
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