CHAPTER 34
The Lord told Jeremiah to warn Zedekiah, king of Judah, that Nebuchadnezzar will take Jerusalem and burn the city, and that Zedekiah would be taken captive.
Also, Zedekiah had proclaimed that all male and female slaves should be given their liberty, which pleased the Lord; however, then he went back on his word and called all slaves to return, which angered the Lord.
COMMENTARY
Zedekiah agreed that all the Hebrew servants were to be freed. This was a covenant the LORD had made at the time of Moses but the people did not keep it. In the process, Zedekiah profaned the LORD'S name. It is important to remember that the world is paying attention to God's people, and when they disregard the LORD'S word, it looks worse than if an unbeliever rejects the LORD. His Word is damaged more by His people than unbelievers.
CHAPTER 35
In this short chapter, the Lord tested the Rechabites by offering them wine to drink, but they refused because they had obeyed this command by their fathers from their youth. And the Lord was pleased and said:
Because you have obeyed the commandment of...your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the LORD..., the God of Israel: "Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever."
COMMENTARY
The Rechabites are part of the believing remnant. The LORD always preserves for Himself a remnant. In the Great Tribulation, there will be reserved for Him 144,000 men. And there will be two witnesses, as well. That is all He needs.
The Rechabites are an example of a people who faithfully obeyed the commands of their earthly father, contrasted with the children of Judah who disobeyed their heavenly Father. One group was to be blessed, and the other was to be judged. But the LORD will always have a remnant.
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| credit: A Little Perspective |