Jeremiah 35

Message: From the Lord to Jeremiah, contrasting two people, one the Rechabites who listened to their earthly father and then the people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem who did not listen to their Heavenly Father.

Time: House of the Rechabites (the descendants of Rechab through Jonadab) in the days of Jehoiakim (the son of Josiah, king of Judah). The Rechabites belonged to the Kenites who accompanied the children of Israel into the holy land.

What the Lord is saying: The Lord asks Jeremiah to bring the Rechabites (Jaazaniah and his brothers) to the temple (house of the Lord) and offer them wine to drink. But, the Rechabites refused citing obedience to the command from their father, Jonadab who told them:

• Do not drink wine, neither you or your sons -- forever. 
• Do not build a house
• Do not sow seed
• Do not plant or have a vineyard
• Live in tents where you will sojourn in the land

There were a people able to flee and move places when Nebuchadnezzar came.

The Lord used them as an example of people that listened to their father. In contrast, the Lord gave the people of Judah commands to obey and they didn't listen.

Promise: Because of their obedience to their father, the Lord gave the Rechabites a promise: Jonadab, the son of Rechab will never lack a man to stand before me (they will always have descendants that serve Me).