The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-06-06

IC-Accepting a High Moral Standard.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Forms of Modern Persecution.
I. Who Were the Rechabites?
Il Chron. 2:55).
They were Kenites Of Hemath of
the family of Jethro, Moses father
in-law (Num. 10:29-32, CT. Judges
1:16). They entered Canaan with
the Israelites. 1t seems that In order
to preserve their identity they chose
a nomadic life. Saul was consider
ate of them Il Sam. 10 :6). They were
characterized by:
1. Abstinence from strong drink
(35:S). 2. Voluntary poverty $3.50.
3. A nomadic life (35 10Y.
u. The Rechabites Tested wv. 1-5).
In the days of Jehoiachim 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 a place where
the people might behold them, the
aim being to teach Judah by example
The father of the Rechabites had
given the command that they should
not drink wine. Their tiial Obedi-
Judah for their lack of obedience to
their Heavenly Father. Jonadab. the
father of the Rechabtes, was only
man, but the commands which Judah
disregarded were from the Almighty
God, their Creator and Savior. They
stood the test. They were loyal to
the traditions of their fathers, even
turning away from the luxury and
degeneracy of Judah and maintaining
their simple life. 1t is Gods plan
that every man be tested. Being
free agent, he can have character
only through testing. 1t was for this
reason that God placed Adam and
Eve in Eden and permitted the devil
to test them While we should be
concerned about the removal of
temptation from men, we should be
more concerned with showing them
how to overcome it.
III. The FiIial Loyalty of the Rech.
abites wv. GID.
Though they were out of their own
country and among a foreign people,
they refused to drink wine, declaring
that they had been true to the in
structiOns of Jonadab all their lives.
Obedience to his instruction had been
practiced by the men, women and
children 1t is fine thing when chill
dren keep in mind their fathers and
render obedience to their commands.
~. The Loyalty of the Rechabites
contrasted with the DisloyaIty of
Judah wv. 12-1G).
1. The appeal wv. 13, 14). This
appeal was made on the basis of the
fiial loyalty of the Rechabites. He
reminded them that though their ia
Their had been dead long time, the
Rechabites remained loyal to his com.
mand. The prophet appealed to them
not only on the ground of this eX-
ample, but on the ground of Gods
earnest entreaty through the prophets.
2. The ministry of the prophets
wv. Is, 16). When the people failed
to render obedience to God, He sent
them prophets who pleaded with them
to amend their ways by turning away
from idols. Matthew Henry indicates
the points of contrast as follows:
U The Rechabites were obedient
to one who was but man. The Jews
disobeyed the infinite and eternal
God. (2) Jonadab was dead long
since and could not know of their
disloy<y or correct them concerning
it. God is all-wise, lives forever and
will punish the disObedient. 81 The
RechabiteS were never put in mind
of their obligations, but God sent His
prophets who rose up early to remind
Judah. az Jonadab left the charge,
with no one to bear the expense of
the charge, but God gave Judah a
goodly land and blessed them in It.
(5) God never tied up His people to
any hard task as did Jonadab, but
Gods people disobeyed Him, while
the Rechabites obeyed their father.
v. Judgment Upon the Jews for
Disobedience ". ~.
God declared that He would bring
Judgment as pronounced against
them.
VI. The Rechabites Rewarded for
Their Loyalty wv. Is, 19).
Because they had heen true to the
commands of Jonadab, they should
have continued representation before
God.