Blessings in the Face of Judgment
Today was a good Monday! After being fairly tired last night, I had a good night of rest and work early and refreshed. I got out and about town a little this morning. One of my stops was at the 24-Hour Fitness Center near our home. It looks like my recovery has brought me to the point where I can benefit from a regular fitness center work out. I will be supported by some of the training staff in setting some goals and addressing my specific needs. This will be a good step of commitment and accountability.
After several months of challenging Mondays, I believe I finally feel the strength and energy to attend the men’s Bible Study tonight at Timberline.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me.” Jeremiah 35:18,19
This chapter of Jeremiah is an unusual one because the prophet uses as an example of obedience and loyalty the family of the Rechabites. Their ancestor had forbidden them to drink wine and they held to that command for generations. Jeremiah tested them by bring them into the Temple and putting wine before them. They refused because of the command from their father Jonadab.
God points out the contrast between this family and His children in these words, “The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. Therefore, thus says the Lord…I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.” Jeremiah 35:16,17
Jeremiah makes it clear that loyalty to our “Heavenly Father” should be as great as loyalty shown to our earthly father and family. Many will show great allegiance to family “rules, patterns and traditions.” I remember meeting an older teen who told me she “doesn’t vote.” When I asked why? She said, “that’s just the way I have been raised.” I wanted to say, “you need new parents.”
When I read this chapter, I am reminded that God takes note what we don’t realize what He is paying attention to. We see that the Lord rewarded this family for their commitment of obedience and loyalty. Their family priorities and relationships were not disregarded as meaningless, compared to obedience to God, but were rewarded by God.
As I consider this I am reminded of youth speaker of years past who used to say in his messages to teens, “if you can’t get along with your parents, you won’t get along with God.” I realize in our day of a growing number of dysfunctional and harmful family environments these analogies are challenging. Obviously this has a godly and loving family and parents in mind. But for our purposes we are reminded that God sees the consistency of character and the integrity of heart that the Psalmist referred to when he said, “… [they] keep their promises, no matter what the cost.” (Psalm 15:5)
The Recabites were living in a day when their “promise keeping” required them to swim against the current of their culture. God saw their commitment and pronounced blessing on them. In our world today there are commitments and actions that require you to swim against the current culture. Remember that God sees, and remembers and blesses even when judgment comes all around.