“DISOBEDIENCE VS. DISCIPLINE”
(2 Kings 23:31-24:17; 2 Chronicles 36:1-10; Jeremiah 26:1-24; 35:1-19)
“The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and say to the people in Judah and Jerusalem, ‘Come and learn a lesson about how to obey me. The Recabites do not drink wine because their ancestor Jehonadab told them not to. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you refuse to listen or obey.” – Jeremiah 35:13-14
Multiple kings in Israel had done evil in the sight of the Lord, in spite of warnings from many prophets. The people of Judah and Jerusalem refused to obey the word from the Lord. So, God gives to them a lesson in how to obey!
Recabites, a splinter group of nomads, descendants of Moses’ father-in-law (see Judges 1:16 & 4:11), were loyal to their ancestor, Jonadab, and disciplined themselves to not drink wine, not build homes, and to live in tents. They were offered wine to drink, and they refused, because they had made a commitment to not drink it. They were disciplined!
However, the people of Israel lacked commitment to the one true God, and were disobedient to His word.
End result – God preserved the Recabites (see Jeremiah 35:19) but because of Israel’s disobedience, all the disasters that were prophesied against them came to pass (see Jeremiah 35:17).
Simple Truth: It’s not enough to simply be a child of God. You MUST obey His Word, be faithful to His ways, and walk according to His precepts.
Reflections & Application:
- Many “Christians” are much like the Israelites we read of in today’s assignment. They may have come to an altar at some point in time. They may go to church services. But, in examination of their daily lives, is there any evidence of a change within from knowing Christ?
- Salvation is far more than raising a hand to accept Christ – it is living a life that reflects the change made from that profession of faith.
- Does your daily life speak of the Christ within you? As the old saying goes, if you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I do not wish to live a life of hypocrisy. Strengthen me today so that my actions and my words would truly be a reflection of the change You have made in my life when I became a new creation in Jesus Christ. I ask this in His precious name, Amen.
About our Author
Tim Satryan has been in full time ministry since 1980. He has served five churches in four states. He has also served as the District Youth and Music Director for the PennDel Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God, was the Presbyter for the state of Delaware for over a decade, and for a number of years traveled with the AG Church Multiplication Network, teaching church planting and church revitalization.
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