A People ApartJeremiah 35:14

Jeremiah 35: 1-2

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This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2 "Go to the Recabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the LORD and give them wine to drink."

Who are the Recabites?

The Recabites were a nomadic clan (35:7-10) descended from “Jonadab [or Jehonadab] son of Recab” (v. 6)

assisted Jehu in exterminating Baal worship from Israel (2 Kings 10:15-27)

They were related to the Kenites (1 Chron. 2:54-55) who descended from Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro (Judg. 1:16)

Jonadab Ben Recad rejected a settled way of life for the life of a nomad, and his lifestyle became the norm for his clan (Jer. 35:6-10).

Jeremiah 35: 3-5

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So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons--the whole family of the Recabites. 4 I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. 5 Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the men of the Recabite family and said to them, "Drink some wine."

Jeremiah 35: 6-11

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But they replied, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: `Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. 7 Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.' 8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine 9 or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. 10 We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, `Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies.' So we have remained in Jerusalem."

Who are the Recabites?

The four prohibitions of the Recabites shall not drink wine shall not build a house shall not sow a seed shall not plant or own a vineyard

traveled in the wilderness of the Negev (Judg. 1:16; 1 Sam. 15:6)

were iron-monger, artisans dealing with iron or even makers of chariots

the ‘family secrets’ of iron making keep this secret within the family, they are

forbidden to drink vine and become nomadic.

Jeremiah 35: 3-5

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Solomon’s temple

Jeremiah 35: 12-16

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Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying: 13 "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem, `Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?' declares the LORD. 14 `Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. 15 Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, "Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers." But you have not paid attention or listened to me. 16 The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.'

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"Therefore, this is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.' "JER 35:18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Recabites, "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.' 19 Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: `Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.' "

Jeremiah 35: 17-19

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I.     The test of the Recabites (vv 1–11)A.     The Lord’s command (vv 1–2)B.     Jeremiah’s obedient response (vv 3–4)C.     The test (v 5)D.     The testimony of the Recabite lifestyle (vv 6–10)E.     The reason for the Recabite presence in Jerusalem (v 11)

II.   Prose oracle against the Israelites (vv 12–17)A.     Contrast between the Recabites and faithless Judah

(vv 12–16)B.     The word of judgment (v 17)

III. An oracle of promise for the Recabites (vv 18–19)

An object lesson

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An object lesson

A People Apart

Eugene Peterson

The essence of Jeremiah’s message is this; “You also have a father who has commanded you to live in total relationship to him. You know that he has set you apart to a live of love. Why don’t you live in response to it? If you think it is because ordinary, mortal human beings can’t do it, think again. The Recabites are ordinary, mortal human beings and they have been doing it for 250 years

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Eugene PetersonYou also have a way of life that requires a certain disciplines to maintain its character. The disciplines involve you in making specific decisions about the way you live: regular worship, faithful prayer, tithing and caring for the poor, moral conduct and the pursuit of righteousness. Now, why don’t you do it? If you think that it is too rigorous a life for ordinary mortal human beings, think again. The Recabites are ordinary mortal humans, and they have been doing it for 250 years.

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The four prohibitions of the Recabitesshall not drink wineshall not build a houseshall not sow a seedshall not plant or own a vineyard

Recabites’ Distinctive

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Christians’ Distinctivepeople who are saved, worshipful and prayerful

John 3:17-2117 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

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Christians’ Distinctivepeople who knows the Word of God

Matt. 4:4MT 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on

bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

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Christians’ Distinctivepeople who loves the people of God

John 13: 34 Jesus said

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

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Christians’ Distinctivepeople who loves those people who do not know God

Matt. 5:43-4843 "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Christians’ Distinctivepeople who lives their lives with integrity

MT 5:33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your`No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

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Christians’ Distinctivepeople who experience joy

John 15: 9-11

9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

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Christians’ Distinctivepeople who are free

John 8: 32-3632 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." JN 8:33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" JN 8:34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

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Christians’ Distinctivepeople who are saved, worshipful and prayerfulpeople who knows the Word of Godpeople who loves the people of Godpeople who loves those people who do not know Godpeople who lives their lives with integritypeople who experience joypeople who are free

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Lessons for us

Saved, worshipful and prayerful Study the Word of God

Do something for one Christian Do something for one non-Christian

Live each day with integrity Receive joy in our lives Exercise your freedom to Please God

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Christians’ Distinctivepeople who are saved, worshipful and prayerfulpeople who knows the Word of Godpeople who loves the people of Godpeople who loves those people who do not know Godpeople who lives their lives with integritypeople who experience joypeople who are free

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Christians’ Distinctive

THE PLEASURE OF GOD

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Christians’ Distinctive

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessings