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Jeremiah 35

19 verses

TL;DR

Jeremiah is commanded to invite the Rechabites to the house of the LORD and give them wine, but they refuse, citing Jonadab’s ancestral covenant of abstinence and simplicity; God contrasts their obedience with Judah’s disobedience, declaring judgment.

Summary

Jeremiah receives a divine instruction to visit the house of the Rechabites and bring them into the house of the LORD, offering them wine to drink. He brings the entire family, including Jaazaniah, into a chamber of the temple and sets wine before them. The Rechabites refuse, citing Jonadab’s command that they and their descendants must never drink wine, build houses, or plant fields, but live only in tents. Jeremiah then relays a prophetic message from the LORD: while the Rechabites have faithfully kept Jonadab’s covenant, the people of Judah and Jerusalem have ignored the Lord’s warnings. Consequently, the LORD declares that He will bring all the foretold evil upon Judah and Jerusalem. Finally, Jeremiah reassures the Rechabites that because of their obedience, no man will ever stand before the LORD in opposition to them.

Outline
  1. Jeremiah is directed to invite the Rechabites to the house of the LORD and offer them wine.
  2. The Rechabites refuse, citing Jonadab’s covenant of abstinence and simple living.
  3. God contrasts their obedience with Judah’s disobedience, pronouncing judgment.
  4. Jeremiah confirms that the Rechabites will remain faithful and that no man will oppose them before the LORD.
Themes
Obedience versus disobedienceCovenant fidelity and ancestral promisesProphetic judgment and divine condemnation
Keywords
RechabitesJonadabobediencecovenantwinetentsprophecyJudgmentJerusalemJeremiah
People
JeremiahJonadab the son of RechabJaazaniah (son of Jeremiah)Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon)ProphetsInhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem
Places
House of the LORD (Temple)JerusalemTents (habitat of Rechabites)Land of Judah
Things
WinePotsCupsTentsHousesVineyardsSeeds
Key Verses
  • Jeremiah 35:5: God’s invitation to give wine to the Rechabites
  • Jeremiah 35:6-7: Rechabite covenant of abstinence and simple living
  • Jeremiah 35:12-14: Lord’s warning to Judah and Jerusalem
  • Jeremiah 35:17-18: Declaration of judgment on Judah
  • Jeremiah 35:19: Promise that no man will stand before the LORD because of the Rechabites’ faithfulness
Questions
  • How does the Rechabite covenant exemplify faithfulness to God’s command?
  • What does God’s statement that no man will stand before Him in relation to the Rechabites signify?
  • Why does God contrast the Rechabites’ obedience with the disobedience of Judah?
  • How does this passage illustrate the theme of covenant fidelity?
  • What lessons can modern readers draw about choosing simple, God-favoring lifestyles?
  • In what ways does the prophet’s message reflect divine judgment and mercy?
  • How might the Rechabites’ refusal to drink wine be understood metaphorically in a spiritual sense?
Sentiment

mixed
The text contains praise for the Rechabites’ obedience and harsh rebuke for Judah’s disobedience.