Jeremiah 35:12-19: a reflection

12Then the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah, saying, 13“The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to listen to my words?” says the LORD. 14“The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and to this day they drink none, for they obey their father’s commandment; but I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking, and you have not listened to me. 15I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Every one of you must return now from his evil way, amend your doings, and don’t go after other gods to serve them. Then you will dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers;’ but you have not inclined your ear, nor listened to me. 16The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to me.”’ 17“Therefore the LORD, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them, but they have not heard; and I have called to them, but they have not answered.’” 18Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he commanded you,’ 19therefore the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jonadab the son of Rechab will not lack a man to stand before me forever.’”

God points his disobedient people to a striking example: the Rechabites, who for generations had faithfully kept a command their ancestor Jonadab had given them, not to drink wine. To this day they obey it, God notes; they have kept their father's command faithfully across the generations. And God draws the contrast: The sons of Jonadab have performed the commandment of their father, but this people has not listened to me. If the Rechabites could keep a mere ancestral command so faithfully, how much more should Judah have obeyed God.

Notice the contrast God draws: the Rechabites faithfully kept a human command, while Judah would not obey God. The Rechabites had kept, for generations, a command from a mere man, their ancestor; they were faithful to it, obeying it all their lives. But Judah, whom God himself had commanded, rising early to speak to them through his prophets, would not listen or obey. The faithfulness of the Rechabites to a human command shamed Judah's unfaithfulness to God. If a mere ancestral rule could be kept so faithfully, how much more should God's own word have been obeyed.

That contrast is worth taking to heart, for we too can keep our lesser commitments faithfully while neglecting to obey God. We can be faithful to human commitments, traditions, rules, and expectations, keeping them diligently, while being far less faithful in obeying God; but God himself is far more to be obeyed than any human command, as the Rechabites' faithfulness to their ancestor shamed Judah's disobedience to God. Consider whether you keep your lesser commitments more faithfully than you obey God; God, who commands you, deserves at least the faithfulness you give to human commitments. Obey God at least as faithfully as you keep your other commitments, remembering how the Rechabites' faithfulness to a human command shamed Judah's unfaithfulness to God; for God, who commands us, is far more to be obeyed than any lesser commitment we keep faithfully.

Lord, you point your disobedient people to a striking example: the Rechabites, who for generations had faithfully kept a command their ancestor Jonadab had given them, not to drink wine. To this day they obey it, you note; they have kept their father's command faithfully across the generations. And you draw the contrast: the sons of Jonadab have performed the commandment of their father, but this people has not listened to me. If the Rechabites could keep a mere ancestral command so faithfully, how much more should Judah have obeyed you. Show me the contrast you draw: the Rechabites faithfully kept a human command, while Judah would not obey you. The Rechabites had kept, for generations, a command from a mere man; they were faithful to it all their lives. But Judah, whom you yourself had commanded through your prophets, would not listen. Their faithfulness to a human command shamed Judah's unfaithfulness to you. Take that contrast to my heart, for I too can keep my lesser commitments faithfully while neglecting to obey you. I can be faithful to human commitments, traditions, rules, and expectations, while being far less faithful in obeying you; but you are far more to be obeyed than any human command. Help me consider whether I keep my lesser commitments more faithfully than I obey you; you, who command me, deserve at least the faithfulness I give to human commitments. Help me obey you at least as faithfully as I keep my other commitments, Lord.