November 13th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Worthy Models

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Opening Prayer

Dear Father, I praise You for the grace You have extended to me. Help me to show it to others.

Read Jeremiah 35:1-19

[1] 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 Rekabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the LORD and give them wine to drink.” [3] 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 Rekabites. [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 Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.” [6] But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab 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 Jehonadab son of Rekab 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 Jehonadab 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.” [12] 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 people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the LORD. [14] ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants 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 ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me. [16] The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’ [17] “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.'” [18] Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jehonadab 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: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.'”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“We are not in the Secret Service; we are in the Spirit’s service. Touched by the Spirit we can love more extravagantly, serve more creatively, give more lavishly” (Leonard Sweet).

Think Further

We do not know the identity of Jehonadab, the godly ancestor of the Recabites who laid upon his descendants the injunctions in vs. 6 and 7. It was not a requirement of the Law but a voluntary commitment which went beyond what was required of Levites, or of someone who took the Nazirite vow (Deut. 18:1; Num. 6).  From one generation to another, the Recabites followed these injunctions without fail, even though they had nothing to gain by it. To say the least, their unconventional lifestyle could not have been an object of admiration in a nation that grew progressively decadent. It is not hard to imagine how a young Recabite would stick out in the midst of other young Jews! The prophet pointed them out as a worthy model for the religious leaders, in particular, and for the nation at large. As far as God was concerned, their testimony was worthy of lasting reward.

What the Recabites were to their compatriots was what God wanted Israel to be as his witness to the nations. He chose their ancestor, Abraham for this purpose to the end that all the peoples of the world would thereby be blessed. He gave them his Law and sent them all the help they required to make a success of it, including priests and prophets to teach and to guide them in his ways. Unlike the Recabites, they indulged in willful disobedience.

This is the calling we now have as sons and daughters of God who are to “shine … like stars” in a crooked and depraved generation (Phil. 2:15). Again and again in his letters, the apostle Paul invites believers to imitate him (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 4:9; 2 Thess. 3:7-9; 2 Tim. 3:10-12). Should we not be doing the same?

Apply

Children and young people watch and often imitate us. How are you, by word and example, drawing them closer to Christ?

Closing prayer

Mighty God, You keep Your covenant and You are faithful to Your promises. Forgive me for my inconsistencies and empower me for a faithful walk with You.

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