After my chapel sermon on February 22, several people have asked follow-up questions. The following comments may help to answer some of these questions.
Someone asked about following your parents’ lifestyle and personal preferences. In the case of the Rechabites the practices in question were commanded by Jonadab. When I say, “your parents are strict,” I mean they are strict in the guidelines they try to enforce on you and ask you to follow. Your parents may have personal practices that they do not expect you to follow. You may have their blessing to be less strict in some areas. The application was not intended to mean that you should exactly copy your parents lifestyle. However, where your parents expect you to follow their example, then you need to think seriously about how best to honor them.
Some people have asked about the limits of parental obedience. This can be a difficult question, but there is an interesting answer in the story itself, in Jeremiah 35:11. The command was to live in tents. However, at the time of this meeting with Jeremiah the Rechabites are apparently not actually living in tents. They explain almost apologetically that the Babylonian invasion has forced them to temporarily move to Jerusalem for safety. Nevertheless in verse 10 they say, “we have obeyed.” Jeremiah agrees in verse 18 when he says, “you have obeyed.” This temporary move in time of war is not considered to be disobedience. It acknowledges that there may be legitimate exceptions in special cases. But be careful about our tendency often to think our situation is an exception when it really isn’t.
Finally some have pointed out that the main point of Jeremiah’s sermon was not about honoring your parents. This is true. If you ask, “Why is Jeremiah 35 in the Bible,” I don’t think the primary reason is, “to encourage you to obey and honor your parents.” But the Rechabite illustration is longer than the recorded sermon, and when the sermon is over Jeremiah adds the post-script of verses 18-19 commending the Rechabites for their obedience. So why is the Rechabite illustration itself recorded in the Bible and what do we learn from it? I think verses 18-19 in particular mean that we should reflect on and take as a positive example the Rechabites themselves. We should not limit the application of this chapter merely to national disobedience to God. These things were recorded “for examples,” not just for historical record.