Read: Jeremiah 35:1-36:32; 1 Timothy 5:1-25; Psalm 89:14-37; Proverbs 25:25-27
God used the Rechabite family as an example to the Israelites. The Rechabites had been taught that they were never to drink wine, build houses or sow seed or plant vineyards. They had obeyed this for generations. Jeremiah commended them for staying true to what their fathers had taught them because Judah had not done that. They had rebelled against all their father, God had taught them. They did not repent so God told Jeremiah to write all the things he had told them would happen to them if they continued in sin. He had his scribe, Baruch write them on a scroll and had the scroll taken to the people. All Jerusalem was fasting to the Lord when Baruch read the words of the scroll to them. When the officials heard the words on the scroll they were afraid and wanted to get the scroll to the king so he could do something about it.
Instead of repenting, Jehoiakim cut the scroll in pieces as it was being read and burned it in a firepot. Then he fearlessly commanded that Baruch and Jeremiah be arrested, but the Lord had hidden them.
Then God told Jeremiah to take another scroll and write the same thing on it and add that Jehoiakim would have no son to sit on the throne and his body would be thrown out to the elements and no one would bury it. His children and attendants would be punished with disaster for their wickedness.
I often wonder what would have happened if they would have repented. It would have been a totally different outcome.
Paul gives Timothy wisdom on how to deal with every age and type of person. They were to respect their elders, care for the widow who is without a family, mentor the younger men and women and rightfully pay the ones in service of the church; have no partiality or favor and stay pure of sin.
Lord, may we hear what you are saying to us and our families and be obedient to do it.
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