Renewing Our Covenant Relationship With God
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[SLIDE 1] Introduction
Good morning brothers and sisters. (May grace…)
I want to express my gratitude to Pastor James for the invitation to speak at SVPGMBC. And I was invited last year a few times to come and speak, but I had to decline because the schedule did not work out for me.
But, you continued to knock on the door, and I finally opened the door and accepted the invitation.
I send you greetings from Oakridge Baptist Church. We’re actually not far from each other. We are situated in the middle of the Cambie Corridor with tons of constructions and new apartments being built within our neighbourhood.
In case you don’t know my connection with Pastor James...I actually met Pastor James and Serena back in 2008 at Campus For Christ (now called Power To Change), and that’s also the place where I met my wife, Alison. By God’s grace, we’ve kept in contact ever since.
Illustration
[SLIDE 2] Let me begin by asking you a question: Did your parents teach you any traditions passed down from your grandparents that they encouraged you to share with future generations?
My mom is very traditional. She strongly values family gatherings on special Chinese events, such as Lunar New Year. So, it is very important for all of her children to be together for dinner.
Unless there is an exceptional case, none of us were allowed to skip out on an important family dinner or else she’ll grill us (verbally and maybe literally).
That’s because a family dinner on those special days was part of respecting the cultural and family tradition.
The reason why I brought that up is because in today’s passage, we will learn about a tribe that kept the instruction of their forefather for many generations. In contrast, God’s people failed to keep the instruction of the LORD.
Let us now unfold the teachings of God’s holy and inerrant word.
Biblical Theology
Context
V1.
[SLIDE 3] Verse 1 in our passage sets up the historical context. Jeremiah 35:1
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah:
This story took place in the days of Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim became the king of Judah in the year 609 - 598 BC.
In 2 Kings 23:36-37, we are told that he was an evil king who did evil in the sight of the LORD. He was one of the last kings of Judah before King Nebuchadnezzar and his army plundered Judah and took the Israelites into Babylonian Captivity.
Because of the reign of Jehoiakim, the people of Judah have committed a great apostasy by turning away from the LORD.
V.2
And then, in v.2, God gave an instruction to Jeremiah. Jeremiah 35:2
2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink.”
The Rechabites were a small tribe of desert nomads, living an abstinent lifestyle. Their roots went back to Jethro the Kenite. He was Moses’ father-in-law.
In the beginning of Judges, we are told that the Kenites came from the area of Jericho and lived in the wilderness of Judah. (Judges 1:16)
For your information, the Kenites were not Israelites although both groups have interacted with each other in Exodus and Judges.
V.3-5
[SLIDE 4] Afterwards, Jeremiah listened to God’s instruction in verses 3-5. Jeremiah 35:3-5
3 So I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah and his brothers and all his sons and the whole house of the Rechabites. 4 I brought them to the house of the Lord into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold. 5 Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, “Drink wine.”
What you need to know is that Jeremiah brought the whole house or the entire family of the Rechabites to Solomon’s temple and into the chamber.
This is important in this story because it shows that the whole family was absolutely obedient to their ancestors, from their children (sons & daughters), their youth, young adults, adults (married and working), to seniors.
After entering into the chamber, Jeremiah set pitchers (or bowls) of wine along with cups and offered them wine to drink.
Offering wine was a form of hospitality in the ancient world. Wine was used for celebration and enjoyment, and it was a sign of blessing from God.
Yet at the same time, excessive drinking of wine is a sin. In the New Testament, we are not to be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The fact that God told Jeremiah to offer the Rechabites wine was a form of testing their loyalty to their ancestors.
In the ancient world, when the host offers the guest wine, it would have been a sign of disrespect for the guest not to accept the offer. You can imagine the pressure in that scene.
How will the Rechabites respond to the offer?
[SLIDE 5-6] We see in Jeremiah 35:6-11
6 But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. 7 You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’ 8 We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, 9 and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or seed, 10 but we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against the land, we said, ‘Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and the army of the Syrians.’ So we are living in Jerusalem.”
V.6-11
We see that the Rechabites refused to drink wine. What’s the reason?
It is because their father, Jonadab, the son of Rechab, commanded his children and their subsequent children not to drink wine.
But, it was not just an abstinence of wine. They recited their version of the “Ten Commandments” or a “creed” (if you will) from Jonadab. They’re instructed not to drink wine, build houses, sow seed, and plant or own a vineyard, but that they’re to live in tents all their days as sojourners.
After reciting what Jonadab had instructed them, verses 8-10 tell us that the family of Rechabites have obeyed and kept the voice of their father. They have never broken and disobeyed his teachings.
But they did move closer to Jerusalem out of necessity. In verse 11, we are told that the Rechabites were escaping from danger, and finding protection and safety behind the walls of Jerusalem.
Why? It’s because the army of the Chaldeans and Syrians have come against the land.
They were not dumb. They had to protect and look out for their own family.
Nonetheless, they still remained committed to Jonadab. This was a “generational obedience” meaning that it was not only Jonadab’s children who obeyed, but the rest of the descendents, everyone in the family, have obeyed the instruction.
When Jeremiah offered them wine, God knew that they would refuse because He knew of their loyalty.
Now, who was this Jonadab?
Jonadab was not alive during this time. He lived 300 years before this event.
He was same person in 2 Kings 10:15-24. He was the one who assisted Jehu in purging the worship of Baal in Israel and slaughtering the remaining members of King Ahab’s family. He was a religious puritist who desired Israel to return back to the way of God.
We don’t know why Jonadab gave his list of instruction to his descendent because I don’t think Scripture explains it.
Maybe he saw the corruption, immorality and injustice in Israel.
Perhaps he saw how excessive drinking of wine led Judah to a moral decay.
And so he determined to separate himself and his family from the evil and corrupt influences of society.
It’s kind of like the Amish who stay away from the city life.
[SLIDE 7] But, what’s fascinating about his commandment is that it is a bit similar to the 5th commandment in Exodus 20:12.
Moses said to Israel: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” There is a command and there is a promise.
[SLIDE 8] At the end of verse 7, Jonadab’s commandment also comes with a promise, “that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.”
Jonadab pronounced blessings to his children and his descendents if they obeyed his commandments. They would live a “long time” if they chose the lifestyle of abstinence and nomads.
So, the instructions of Jonadab were kept for 300 years by his children and their children’s children. I mean...who doesn’t want to live for a long time, right?
How many of you actually know who your ancestor was 300 years ago? Maybe you’re aware of them because your family keeps a family tree.
What’s astonishing is that perhaps many of us may not even know a single commandment passed on by our grandfather, let alone our great grandfather. And perhaps some of us have never gotten the chance to meet them.
But these Rechabites demonstrated their uncompromising commitment, absolute and undivided loyalty to family tradition, and their obligation to maintain this family legacy for their posterity.
It does make me think if parenting was that easy for the whole house of the Rechabites...
Few things are more frustrating to a parent than children who will not listen. If you’re a parent, you know what I’m saying. You constantly have to patiently and graciously correct and teach your children over and over again.
Exposition
V.12-16
Although the Rechabites were obedient to their forefather, the main point of this passage is not how to do better parenting, or to abstain from wine, or to become sojourners. So, what’s the main point? [SLIDE 9-10]
12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. 14 The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. 15 I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, ‘Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers.’ But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. 16 The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that their father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me.
The main point of this chapter is that God was using the family of the Rechabites to indict the people of Judah for their disobedience and rebellion, to create a stark contrast between the faithfulness of the Rechabites and the unfaithfulness of Judah.
Faithful living is not abstinence from wine, but obedience! God commended the house of the Rechabites because of their obedience to Jonadab, their forefather.
God was saying, “If the Rechabites are able to obey their earthly forefather, then how much more should you, people of Judah, my covenant people, obey me. Yet you refused to listen to me even though I have again and again reminded you.”
For the most part of their history, Israel was in constant rebellion and disobedience against the LORD. God spoke to them and reminded them of their covenant relationship.
To put it in simple terms: a covenant is a promise made between two or more parties to perform certain actions.
Since God delivered His people, God and Israel entered into a covenant relationship with each other. Israel promised to obey God and God promised to bless them. However, if Israel disobeyed, then God promised to curse them, according to Deuteronomy 28.
But Israel has forgotten that covenant. So, God in His grace reminded them of that covenant by sending them prophets to speak to them and calling them to repentance and amend their ways.
God gave them Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and now Jeremiah to call and warn them to repent and turn away from their sins lest God strips them out of their land.
But, they still chose not to listen. Not only did they not listen to the prophets, they killed some of them.
They were stubborn and stiff-necked people. They chose to worship idols. They did horrendous things that the Canaanites did. They sacrificed their children at the altar of Molech to appease the pagan god. They practiced sexual immorality and injustice in the land.
Furthermore, false prophets were in their midsts, and spread false ideas and teachings. They corrupted Israel’s understanding of God and their understanding of living as His people.
They spread deceptive words that the temple would never be destroyed by anybody.
They taught them that there’s a peace, when in reality, there’s no peace.
Because of the false prophets, the Israelites would never think that God would judge them.
Then, Judah became a corrupt nation at the point of no return. They have persistently...again and again...rejected and disobeyed God and His prophets.
[SLIDE 11] V.17
But how would God respond to His covenant people as a result of their disobedience?
17 Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, 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.”
Therefore, since the people of Judah have not obeyed the LORD, judgment would fall on them. God would strip His people out of the land of Judah by sending a wicked and corrupt nation, Babylon, to siege them and exile them out of the Promised Land and into a Foreign Land.
That is how God would respond to Judah and their sins. That’s the curse for disobedience.
Since Jehoiakim was one of the last kings of Judah, the Babylonian Captivity was already slowly taking place in the Southern Kingdom.
[SLIDE 12] V.18-19
But passage is not done. God would now respond to the Rechabites as a result of their obedience to their forefather.
18 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, 19 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.”
Because the Rechabites were obedient to their forefather, God commended them and said that Jonadab shall not lack a man to stand before Him.
What does this mean? To stand before God means to be in service to the Lord. That phrase is usually given to those who were serving in the office of prophet, priest, or king. But, it didn’t mean that they would take over those offices.
I think it does mean that God will by His grace preserve this family, and somehow give them a task to serve Him.
Many years later, the Jews returned to Jerusalem after exile as promised by God. And they will rebuild the temple of God and the walls of Jerusalem.
[SLIDE 13] And in Nehemiah 3:14, it tells us that there would be a man, who is in a line of Rechab, who would serve the Lord by assisting in the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem.
[SLIDE 14] Main Point
If the Rechabites have obeyed their forefathers’ commands, then how much more should God be obeyed?
The main point of this passage is to illustrate the contrast between the Rechabites and Israelites. Their unwavering devotion to their forefather stood in stark contrast to unfaithful Judah’s rejection of the God of Israel and His prophets.
The Rechabites obeyed their forefather who was just a man, but the people of Judah disobeyed their heavenly Father who is the Creator and God.
The Rechabites received the command from their forefather just once and they obeyed, but the people of Judah received the command from God countless times and they still disobeyed.
The Rechabites treasured and preserved their family tradition with such dedication and commitment, but the people of Judah disrespected and abandoned the law of God.
The Rechabites were the promise keepers, but the people of Judah were the promise breakers.
God used the Rechabites as an object lesson to put Judah to shame.
Gospel
The people of Judah were meant to live a lifestyle of deep devotion and obedience to the LORD just like the Rechabites. But they failed as a nation.
Although the Rechabites were devoted and obedient, we are told that they were obedient about particular things, but were they perfect as God is perfect?
We must remember that they were also sinners in need of God’s grace.
But here is what’s fascinating about the Rechabites’ obedience to Jonadab. It seems impeccable, loyal, and uncomprisingly ethical. But, there is something greater and better.
This kind of obedience would be the type / picture that finds fulfillment in its ultimate expression in Jesus Christ and His obedience to His heavenly Father.
The Rechabites lived in obedience on behalf of their own family tradition.
But, when we failed to obey and trust in God, Jesus Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to His Father on our behalf.
The Rechabites’ obedience cannot save and atone for our sins.
But, when we transgressed and broke the law of God, He fulfilled the law of God. By His Grace, Christ’s life of perfect obedience would qualify Him to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of those who repent and trust in Him, for the forgiveness of sin, for redemption from hell and the wrath of God to come.
Christ did so not because of us, but despite our depravity in order to ultimately glorify God and redeem His bride, the church.
Application / Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, my hope is to exhort you to renew your covenant relationship with God.
I saw that your theme for 2023 is rebuilding God’s house. As I was seeking the Lord’s help in preparing this message, how I can best serve you with the limited amount of time that I have here?
To rebuild God’s house effectively as a church, there should be no doubt that your personal (and covenant) relationship with God must be in the right place.
What does Jeremiah 35 have to do with renewing your covenant relationship with God?
When God saved you through the person and work of Jesus Christ, you entered into a covenant relationship with Him when you have repented of your sins, received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, and followed Him and became His disciple.
We are God’s new covenant people, which is a better covenant than God made with Israel. Because God has redeemed the church by the finished work of Christ, how much more should you - as the body of Christ - submit your life under the Lordship of Christ? How much better or worthier is Jesus than Jonadab?
Yet, we know we fall short of God’s standard, don’t we?
That’s why God uses means of grace, such as the preaching of God’s word, celebration of the Lord’s Supper, baptism, church gatherings, and more...to remind us to turn back to Him.
If God has been persistently calling you to repent of your sins and yet you did not listen, know that this passage took place as an example for you, that you might not desire evil as Israel did.
Perhaps God may not just be speaking to you individually.
When God spoke to Judah, He spoke to them corporately. So, maybe God has a message for you as a church.
What might God be convicting you to repent of?
Repentance is sometimes viewed as a dirty and negative word. But Scripture uses it as a gracious and hopeful message because there is hope for you.
Thomas Watson: “Repentance is a grace of God's Spirit, whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and outwardly reformed.”
It’s time for you to turn now from your evil ways, and amend your deeds, and restore, remember, and renew your relationship with God.
[SLIDE 15]
Now, having unfolded God’s word, let me offer three general points of application for you to consider:
Live To Honour God In All Aspects Of Your Life
Honour the LORD in your home, marriage, your relationship with your parents and children.
What is shocking is this...some non-Christians may do better at honouring their parents than some Christians.
Some non-Christians may be more faithful to their spouses than some Christians.
When your non-Christian friends see you behaving worldly and carnally, then “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
But, the Christian life ought to be different, pure, and holy so that when unbelievers see how different we are as Christians, they may glorify the LORD.
So, my exhortation: will you honour the LORD in all aspects of your life.
Listen And Obey
Like the Israelite, God has been speaking to you, yet you are not listening.
Perhaps, you do not find Jesus worthy to be obeyed. Maybe it’s unbelief in His Word and promises. Maybe it’s your pride or stubbornness that is preventing you from enjoying the abundant life that God gives.
It would take the miracle of God’s sovereign work to nudge you to be a good listener of God’s word.
A poor listener will hear, but not act.
A good listener will hear and act.
It’s time for you not only to be a hearer of the word, but to be a doer of the word.
Jesus said that if you love me then you will keep my commandments.
So, will you listen and obey?
Leave An Everlasting Legacy
What is quite admirable about Jonadab is that he left a legacy behind for his children.
Do you want to leave a line of godly legacy? I want to leave a long lasting line of godly legacy. I want my children and their children to follow and obey Jesus Christ.
What about you as a church? Pastors and Leaders. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
I don’t just want a 300-year legacy, but an everlasting legacy that has an eternal impact for a dying world in need of Christ and in need of labourers for Christ until the day Christ returns.
I desire to hear God say, “Tommy Wong shall never lack a man to stand before me.” Or “SVPGMBC shall never lack a man to stand before me.”
So, will you leave an everlasting legacy for the cause of Christ?
[SLIDE 16] Let’s pray.
Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for revealing Your righteous demands to us. Through the preaching of Your word, we receive your means of grace, knowing that it is a constant reminder for us to renew our love and delight in our relationship with You.
I pray that we would seek you with our whole heart and not wander from your word, and not fail to listen to You. Deal with us accordingly, bountifully, with your people that we may live and keep your word.
We know we are fallen and stained with sin. Wherever we have stumbled, your grace abounds all the more over our sin. So, we confess our sins before you, knowing that you are faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and also having the assurance that our sins have already been forgiven by the finished work of Christ. Therefore, from now this forward, we live and walk in newness of life with this renewed committment to You.
By your grace, please help us glorify you in all areas of our life.