'The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment
of their father, which he commanded them; but this people have not
hearkened unto Me.'--JER. xxxv. 16.
The Rechabites had lived a nomad life, dwelling in tents, not
practising agriculture, abstaining from intoxicants. They were therein
obeying the command of their ancestor, Jonadab. They had been driven by
the Babylonian invasion to take refuge in Jerusalem, and, no doubt,
were a nine days' wonder there, with their strange ways. Jeremiah
seized on their loyalty to their dead ancestor's command as an
object-lesson, by which he put a still sharper edge on his rebukes. The
Rechabites gave their ancestral law an obedience which shamed Judah's
disobedience to Jehovah. God asks from us only what we are willing to
give to one another, and God is often refused what men have but to ask
and it is given. The virtues which we exercise to each other rebuke us,
because we so often refuse to exercise them towards God.