Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-10-31
|. The RechabItes Tested wv. 1.5).

" 'Ue NSSUdpitCb CbtCu NNNs i-oIs
In the days Of Jeholaklm the Lord
charged Jeremiah to bring the Rechn'
bites into the house Of the Lord and test
them regarding the drinking OF wine.
This he did In place where the people
might behold them, the aim being to
teach Israel by example. The father
of the Rechabites had given command
that they should not drink wine. Their
fllnl obedience put to shame the Is
raelltes for their lack of obedience.
Jonadnb, the father Of the Rechnbites.
was only man, but the one whose
commands Israel we're dlsregarding
was the Almighty God, their Creator
and Savior. II Is Gods plan that every
man be tested. Being free agent he
only can have character through test
ing II was for this reason that God
/ placed Adam and Eve I'm Eden and per-
mlited the devil to test them. While
we should be concerned with the re-
movnl OF temptations from men. we
=
Ing them their responsibility and show
Ing them how 10 overcome.
u. The FiIial Loyalty Of the Recha'
bites wv. GID.
Though they were out Of their own
country. In the midst Of foreign peo
j pie, they refused to drink wine. declar'
Ing that they had beep true TO the In
strlctl0n of JOnudub all their lives.
Obedience to his instructions had been
prnctlccd by all men, women and chill
dren. 1t Is II fine thing when children
keep in memory their fathers and rem
der obedience TO their commands.
~. The Loyalty Of the Rechabites In
Contrast With the DsIoyalty Of tho
israelites wv. 1910.
!. The appeal wv. 10, 14). He made
the appeal on the basis of the iillal
loyalty of the Rechabites. He remind
ed them that the Rechabites were ODE
dent, though their father was dead
long ago. He also reminded them that
he bad spoken to them In person, rising
up early to do so.
2. The ministry Of the prophets wv.
Is, 16). When the people failed to rem
der obedience to God he sent to them
the prophets, who plead with them to
amend their ways by turning away
from their idols. Matthew Henry indi-
Gates the points Of contrast somewhat
as follows: (1) The Rechabites were
obedIent TO one who was but man;
the Jews dlsobeyed the infnlte and
eternal God. (2) Jonadab was dead
long since and could not know Of their
dlsloyalty or correct them from II. God
Is all.wise and lives forever and will
punish for dlsobcdience. t3) The Rech-
abltes were never put in mind Of their
obligations, but God sent his prophets
who rose up early to remind them. t4)
Jonadnb left the charge, but no estate
to bear the charge; but God gave the
people goodly land and blessed them
In II. 90 God never tied up his people
TO any hard task like ,Jonadab did. yet
Gods people dlsobeyed him and the
Rechabites obeyed their fnther.
". Judgment Upon the Jews for Dis.
obedience w. ~.
God declared that he would bring
judgment upon them according to what
he had said. Judgment is determined
upon those who dlsobey and rebel
against God.
V. Reward OF the Rechabltes for
Their Loyalty wv. Is, 19).
Because they had been true to thu
commands of J0nadab they should
have continued representation before
God. God has such regard for fillal
obedience that he let's no act go unre-
warded.