Witness of Abstinence

Jeremiah 35 introduces the Rechabites. This is a clan within Israel that had refrained from wine, lived in tents, and refused to sow seed or plant vineyards for generations. The sole basis for this abstinence from normal life was the command of Jonadab the son of Rechab who commanded “You shall not drink wine, you or your sons, forever” (v. 6).

Yahweh points to the Rechabites as a rebuke to Israel. Yahweh gave His law to His people, and continuously sent prophets to turn His people from their idols, but they continuously refused. “The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have observed the command of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to Me” (v. 16). 

Jonadab’s command was entirely supererogatory; Yahweh wasn’t requiring anyone to follow the specifics of Rechabite discipline. It was a formal commendation: It wasn’t the content of the command that Yahweh admires, but the Rechabites’ faithfulness to it. Israel the Son refused to listen to Yahweh his Father, but the Rechabites were commended for their completely unnecessary adherence to a father’s command.

Jeremiah 35 doesn’t answer all our questions by itself, but the passage needs to be figured into Protestant thinking about a host of issues: About the legitimacy of disciplines of abstinence; about adherence to extra-biblical traditions; about faithfulness to practices that are not required of all of God’s people. 

Rigorous obedience over the long haul – even obedience to commands that are not strictly divine commands – is a standing witness against the laxity of the average believer.