Jeremiah 35
Introduction
Exposition
Verses 1-11 - A Tale of Obedience
Obedience to the Lord’s commands is not a problem unique to the Hebrews. From the beginning of history the human race has insisted on asserting its independence from God. It has not yet learned the lesson that declaring one’s independence from God does not bring happiness or blessing that the tempter promises (see Gen 3:5).
Verses 12-16 - A Tale of Disobedience
Notice the telling contrasts between the Recabites and Judah.
1. The Recabites obeyed a fallible leader (v.14); Judah’s leader was the eternal God (cf. Mal 1:6).
2. Jonadab gave his commands to the Recabites only once; God repeatedly sent his messages to his people (v.15).
3. The restrictions that bound the Recabites did not deal with eternal issues God’s messages to his people had eternal as well as temporal implications.
4. The Recabites obeyed the commands of Jonadab for about three hundred years; the Lord’s people constantly disobeyed (v.16).
5. The loyalty of the Recabites would be rewarded; for their disloyalty God’s people would be punished (v.17).
Verse 17 - Punishment for Disobedience
35:17 all the disaster. See 34:22. called to them. Through Moses and the prophets (Luke 16:29–31). not answered. By believing, repenting, and obeying (Hos. 11:1–2).
Verses 18-19 - Reward for Obedience
The expression “serve me” (ʿōmēḏ lep̱ānay, lit., “stood before me”) has been variously understood (v.19). It is a technical term for the privilege of service, used of prophets (1 Kings 17:1), priests (Num 16:9), and kings (1 Kings 10:8). The term usually involves service in the temple but may not connote that here (so Laetsch). Some scholars think the promise in v.18 was literally fulfilled in the Recabites’ being in some way incorporated into the tribe of Levi.
It is quite remarkable that anyone would keep a vow made by an ancestor hundreds of years earlier or consider it still binding on the descendants. It is equally remarkable that anyone who enters into a covenant relationship with God through the new covenant today (see 31:31–34) would be inclined to a life of disobedience. The commendation of the Recabites for their faithfulness and the warning to Judah for its unfaithfulness contain a valid lesson for the present generation.