The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
The word came from the Lord to Jeremiah in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah. It introduced God's direction to Jeremiah to gather the Rechabites into the house of the Lord and set wine before them as a test. When brought there and offered wine, the Rechabites refused it in obedience to their ancestor Jonadab, who had commanded them and their descendants never to drink wine.
Their obedience was to be set in contrast to Judah's refusal to obey God, even though Judah had received special light and repeated instruction. That contrast shows that faithfulness and obedience bring blessing, while persistent disregard of divine counsel brings judgment. Their loyalty shows that obedience to parental authority and a life of temperance, frugality, and simplicity are commendable.
The word came from the Lord to Jeremiah in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah. It introduced God's direction to Jeremiah to gather the Rechabites into the house of the Lord and set wine before them as a test. When brought there and offered wine, the Rechabites refused it in obedience to their ancestor Jonadab, who had commanded them and their descendants never to drink wine.
Their obedience was to be set in contrast to Judah's refusal to obey God, even though Judah had received special light and repeated instruction. That contrast shows that faithfulness and obedience bring blessing, while persistent disregard of divine counsel brings judgment. Their loyalty shows that obedience to parental authority and a life of temperance, frugality, and simplicity are commendable.