Jeremiah Reproves Israel
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Jeremiah, but God’s judgments were pronounced against them in
consequence of their grievous sin of bringing rebellion against Him.
Just such men arise in these days and breed confusion and rebellion
among the people who profess to obey the law of God. But just as
certainly as divine judgment was visited upon the false prophets, just so
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surely will these evil workers receive their full measure of retribution;
for the Lord has not changed. Those who prophesy lies encourage
men to look upon sin as a small matter. When the terrible results of
their crimes are made manifest, they seek, if possible, to make the one
who has faithfully warned them responsible for their difficulties, even
as the Jews charged Jeremiah with their evil fortunes.
Those who pursue a course of rebellion against the Lord can always
find false prophets who will justify them in their acts and flatter them
to their destruction. Lying words often make many friends, as in the
case of Ahab and Zedekiah. These false prophets, in their pretended
zeal for God, found many more believers and followers than the true
prophet, who delivered the simple message of the Lord.
A Lesson from the Rechabites
God commanded Jeremiah to gather the Rechabites into the house
of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and set wine before them and
invite them to drink. Jeremiah did as the Lord commanded him. “But
they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our
father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor
your sons forever.”
Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith
the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken
to My words? saith the Lord. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab,
that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed, for unto
this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment.”
Here God contrasts the obedience of the Rechabites with the dis-
obedience and rebellion of His people, who will not receive His words
of reproof and warning. The Rechabites obeyed the commandment of
their father and refused to be enticed into transgression of his require-
ments. But Israel refused to hearken unto the Lord. He says: “I have
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spoken unto you, rising early and speaking, but ye hearkened not unto