Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from Jeremiah chapter
35. his brothers and all his sons and the whole
house of the Rechabites. And I brought them into
the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the
sons of Hanan, the son of Idalia, a man of God,
which was by the chamber of the princes, above
the chamber of Masiah, the son of Shalom, the
keeper of the door. Then I set before the sons
of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of
wine and cups, and I said to them, Drink wine.
But they said, We will drink no wine. For Jonadab,
the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us,
saying, Ye shall drink no wine, you nor your
sons, for ever. Ye shall not build a house, so
seed. plant a vineyard, nor have any of these.
But all your days you shall dwell in tents, that
you may live many days in the land where you
are sojourners. Thus we have obeyed the voice
of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, our father, in
all that he charged us, to drink no wine all
our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters,
nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in. Nor
do we have vineyards, field, or seed. But we
have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done
according to all that Jonadab our father commanded
us. But it came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon came up into the land, that we
said, Come, let us go to Jerusalem, for fear
of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of
the army of the Syrians. So we dwell at Jerusalem.
Then came the word of the Lord to Jeremiah, saying,
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,
Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction
to obey my words? says the Lord. The words of
Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded
his sons not to drink wine, are performed. For
to this day they drink none, and obey their father's
commandment. But although I have spoken to you,
rising early and speaking, you did not obey me.
I have also sent to you all my servants the prophets,
rising up early and sending them, saying, Turn
now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings,
and do not go after other gods to serve them.
Then you will dwell in the land which I have
given you and your fathers. But you have not
inclined your ear, nor obeyed me. Surely the
sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed
the commandment of their father, which he commanded
them. But this people has not obeyed me. Therefore
thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the
inhabitants of Jerusalem all the doom that I
have pronounced against them, because I have
spoken to them, but they have not heard, and
I have called to them, but they have not answered.
And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites,
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,
Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab
your father, and kept all his precepts, and done
according to all that he commanded you, therefore
thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,
Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man
to stand before me forever. I hope you enjoyed
today's reading as much as I did and I look forward
to seeing you again tomorrow to continue on our
journey. God bless you and have a great day.