Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for July 30, 2023

A Lesson to Learn

Jeremiah 35:1-19

1. Background

• events/messages from the siege to the fall of Jerusalem
• object lesson of the Rechabites: “symbolic action”

2. Assessment of Loyalty 1-5

• instructions concerning the Rechabites (2 Kings 10:15-27)
• intensity of the assessment

3. Explanation of Refusal 6-11

• commandment of Jonadab
• careful obedience to a long-dead ancestor

4. Application for Judah 12-17

• instructions concerning Judah and Jerusalem
• argument from lesser to greater
• painfully apparent contrast

5. Commendation of Rechabites 18-19

• obedience acknowledged
• blessing pronounced (Neh. 3:14)
• searing rebuke

6. So What?

• Because He is the living God and means what He says, obey the LORD’S commands.
• connections to Christ: Phil. 2:8, John 14:15, 1 John 5:3
• “Sometimes secular loyalties to some cause or person put to shame the loyalty of God’s people to Him and His commands.” (Huey)
• The depth of your declaration of dependence is displayed through your obedience.
• “Jesus, too late I Thee have sought; how can I love Thee as I ought? And how extol Thy matchless fame, the glorious beauty of Thy name? Jesus, my Lord, I Thee adore; O make me love Thee more and more.” (Collins, “Jesus, My Lord, My Life, My All”)