Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1919-10-31
!. The RechabItes Tested wv. 1-5).


I. The Rechabites Tested wv. 1-5).
In the days of Jehoiakim the Lord
charged Jeremiah TO bring the Recha-
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
filial obedience put TO shame the Is
raelites for their lack of obedience.
Jonadab. the father Of the Rechabites.
was only man. but the one whose
commands Israel were disregarding
was the Almighty God, their Creator
and Savior. 1t is Gods plan that every
man be tested. Being free agent he
only can have character through test
ing. 1t was for this reason that Goo
placed Adam and Eve In Eden and per-
mitted the devil to fest them, While
ives should be- concerned with the re-
moval Of temptations from men, we
ssiint1ld be more concerned with teach
/, ing them their responsibility and show
ing them how to overcome.
u. The FiiiaI Loyalty Of the Recha-
Bites tvv. 6-11).
Though they were out of their own
cbuntry. in the midst OF foreign peo-
pie, they refused to drink wine, declar-
ing that they had been true to the in
struction Of Jonadab all their lives
Obedience TO his instructions had been
,rAc nv n1 arl M
d.en. 1t is fine thing when children
keea in memory their fathers and rem
der obedience to their commands
liE THE Loyafty Of the RecnSbites In
Contrast With the Distoyalty of the
israeIltes wv. 12-16)
]. The appeal wv. 13, 14). He made
the appeal on the basis Of the filial
loyalty of the Rechabites. He remind
ed them that the Rechabites We're obe-
dient. though their father was dead
long ago. He also reminded them that
he had spoken to them in person, rising
up early to do so.
2. The ministry of the prophets tvv.
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
obedent to one who was but a man;
the Jews disobeyed the infinite and
eternal God. (2) Jonadab was dead
long since and could not know of their
disloyalty or correct them from it. God
is all-wIse and lives forever and will
punish for dis0bedience. (3) The Rech-
abites were never put in mind of their
obligations. but God sent his prophets
who rose up early to remind them. az
Jonadab left the charge, but no estate
to bear the charge; but God gave the
people goodly land and blessed them
in 1t. (5) God never tied up his people
to any hard task like Jonadab did. yet
Gods people disobeyed him and the
Rechabites obeyed their father.
w. Judgment Upon the Jews for Dis
obedience ". ~.
God declared that he would bring
Judgment upon them according to what
he had said. Judgment is determined
upon those who disobey and rebel
against God.
v. Reward OF the Rechabites for
Their Loyalty (vv. is, 19).
Because they had been true to the
commands of Jonadab they should
have continued representation before
God. God has such regard for fiIial
obedience that he let's no act so unre-
Warded