This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: “Go to the Rekabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.” So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Rekabites. I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper. Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.” But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.’ We have obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab commanded us. But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded this land, we said, ‘Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies.’ So we have remained in Jerusalem.” Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me. The descendants of Jehonadab son of Rekab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’ “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.’ ” Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jehonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’ Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.’ ”
— Jeremiah 35:1-19

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
— 1 Peter 2:11-12

They admitted that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.
— Hebrews 11:13

~~~~~

Pilgrims of Obedience
By Jennifer Kane

We the chosen—strangers in this land,
Must walk by faith, not seen delight;
To hold the cup with steady hand,
And serve the Lord who gives us light.
For here we have no lasting home—
Our roots are faith, our dwelling grace;
We journey on till heaven’s dome
Reveals our Father’s dwelling place.

Though scoffers call our way confined,
And laugh that we refuse their wine,
We seek a city God designed,
Whose builder’s hands are all divine.
Like Rekab’s sons, we still obey,
Though worldlings mock our pilgrim ways;
For soon will dawn the endless day—
And faithfulness will find its praise.

~~~~~

Scripture: Jeremiah 35:1-19, Peter 2:11-12, Hebrews 11:13

Throughout Scripture, God’s people are called pilgrims and sojourners (1 Peter 2:11; Hebrews 11:13). We live in this world but are not of it. Our true home is not found in comfort, cities, or possessions, but in obedience and fellowship with God.

In Jeremiah 35, the prophet presents a powerful example of this pilgrim spirit through the Rekabites—a small clan who remained faithful to their ancestor Jonadab’s command to live simply, abstain from wine, and dwell in tents rather than build houses. While Judah rebelled against God’s repeated calls to repentance, the Rekabites quietly demonstrated what steadfast obedience looks like.

The obedience of the Rekabites stands in sharp contrast to Judah’s disobedience:
1 They obeyed a fallible leader—Jonadab, a man of the flesh—while Judah disobeyed the eternal God.
2 They received their command once and obeyed; Judah received God’s word again and again and still refused to listen.
3 They obeyed regarding earthly matters—wine, dwellings, and lifestyle—while Judah disobeyed regarding eternal truths.
4 They held to their ancestor’s command for centuries, while Judah persistently broke covenant with their Lord.

The Rekabites’ quiet consistency put Judah’s rebellion to shame. Their obedience illuminated Judah’s guilt and exposed the hardness of their hearts.

God honored the Rekabites’ faithfulness: “Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father… Jonadab the son of Rekab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever.” (Jeremiah 35:18–19)

This promise—“to stand before Me”—was a sacred expression of service and fellowship. Prophets, priests, and kings stood before God to serve Him (1 Kings 17:1; Deuteronomy 10:8). God essentially welcomed the Rechabites into a priestly fellowship, a continual spiritual lineage of faithfulness.

Scholars even note that the Rekabites may have become associated with the Levites or the later Essenes—groups marked by purity and devotion. In any case, the promise of a perpetual standing before God was not merely for their bloodline—it was for all who live in faithful obedience.

We, as Christians, are the spiritual descendants of the Rekabites.
Like them, we have been called to live as pilgrims, refusing the world’s indulgences and comforts for the sake of God’s kingdom. We follow our Lord Jesus Christ—the eternal Son—whose call is higher and holier than any earthly command.

We obey not to earn favor, but because we love the One who called us. Each act of obedience, no matter how small, sets us apart as citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20).

The Rekabites’ tents remind us that this world is not our permanent dwelling. Their restraint reminds us that our joy is not found in earthly pleasures but in the favor of God. Their generational faithfulness encourages us to remain steadfast, even when obedience seems out of place in a disobedient age.

Do I live as a pilgrim, resisting the pull of worldly ease and compromise?
Do I obey God’s commands with the same devotion the Rekabites showed toward their father’s instruction?
How can I cultivate an attitude of holy separation and faithful obedience in my daily walk?

Seek to live this week with the Rekabite spirit—a quiet, consistent, humble obedience. Let your life testify that it is possible to remain faithful amid a world that has forgotten its Creator.
Choose one command of God—perhaps forgiveness, generosity, or purity—and obey it wholeheartedly. Let obedience become your act of worship.

~~~~~

Father God, make me a pilgrim in this world—faithful, steadfast, and content to follow You wherever You lead. May my obedience honor You as the Rekabites honored Jonadab. Let me stand before You forever in service and love, until I dwell in the eternal home You have prepared for me. Thank you and in your name I pray,  Jesus, Amen.

November 1 2025