Are There Still Rechabites?

They were peculiar people, these Rechabites. Everyone in Jerusalem knew them. They were known for living a separate life somewhat isolated from the general population. We cannot rule out that they may have been laughed at, either openly or behind their back, when they walked about the streets of Jerusalem. They were a small group. Their name was taken from a certain Rechab. This Rechab belonged to the family of the Kenites, who in turn, as is well known, were descendants of Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. Long ago they entered the land of Canaan with the Israelites and made their home there. They accepted Israel’s religion, but for the rest they lived as strangers in the midst of God’s people. There were different groups of such Kenites in Israel. For example, a group lived in Naphtali to whom belonged Heber whose courageous wife killed Captain Sisera. There was also a group who lived in Judah. Among this latest group there were writers and notary public officials. We can read about them in 1 Chronicles 2:55. It is to this group that the Rechabites belonged. Their father, or forefather’s name was Rechab. This man had a son whose name was Jehonadab, or Jonadab for short.

In 2 Kings 10, Jonadab gave his hand in friendship to Jehu who asked him, “Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?” Jonadab became Jehu’s companion in the extermination of the prophets of Baal. Old translators of the Statenvertaling have in their marginal notes expressed their opinion that this Jonadab was a very God-fearing, respectable, wealthy person. In any event, Jonadab was an exceptionally strong person. He was likely also a person with a very serious outlook on life. This is known from the commandments which he left behind for his children.

There were five particular commands Jonadab gave his posterity. They could not drink any wine; they were not allowed to build houses; they were not allowed to sow seed; they were not allowed to plant a vineyard; and they had to live in tents all of their days.

What must be thought of these things? Someone may well say that Jonadab has not been such an easy man for his children. What could they do? There are two more remarkable items to note about these five commandments of Jonadab. In the first place, these matters which Jonadab had forbidden his children to do are nowhere forbidden or commanded to be obeyed in God’s Word.

Scripture, for example, does not forbid humans to build houses, nor to drink wine, and nowhere does it require everyone to live in tents all their life. In the second place, it must especially attract attention that Jonadab’s children had continued to obey these commands of their father throughout the generations with a special faithfulness. It is a faithfulness which was revealed in the days of the prophet Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 35, Jeremiah was commanded by the Lord to call these Rechabites and bring them into one of the chambers of the temple. The Rechabites were present within the walls of Jerusalem in those days because of the approaching armies of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Now the Lord charged Jeremiah to place before the Rechabites beakers and basins full of wine and command them to drink the wine—a command that clearly went against the order given them by their forefather Jonadab. It is as if the Lord would say, “Come on, Jeremiah, put them to the test. Let us see if these people, in a strange environment and in different circumstances from what they are accustomed to, will remain faithful to the command of their forefather.”

The outcome is known. The Rechabites refused, resolutely, without hesitation. Even though they had the deepest respect for the prophet, they still refused him. Then the Lord placed this example of the Rechabites who obeyed the command of their earthly father who died a long time ago, and who could not do anything for them anymore, before the inhabitants of Jerusalem who never obeyed the name of their heavenly Sovereign, one who lives and can help them. That is what the message in the history of Jeremiah 35 is about.

Perhaps, reader, you may ask why this history has been brought to your attention once again. Because of a certain concern. In the history of the Rechabites there is among other things a history of the worth of tradition. From time to time it is asked whether the value of tradition is still appreciated among our people. To say it even more succinctly, the Rechabites were characterized by a completely personal lifestyle whereby they were not only discernibly differentiated from the world around them but also from the greatest portion of religious persons in Jerusalem. It was not the Lord’s intention to have Jeremiah say in this portion of Scripture that all of Jerusalem could not build houses or could drink no wine. Yet it is clear that God attaches His visible approval to their following the underlying principles handed down as commanded by their father.

In church life there are also traditions and a characteristic lifestyle. At times, this lifestyle can be directly related to God’s Word; at other times, it cannot. Some people hold on to traditions which are in strife with God’s Word, people who come to church only once on Sunday because they are accustomed to that from their youth, and it is impossible to get them to change their position. For such traditions, of course, there is nothing good to say. The characteristic lifestyle of our congregations is visible in a great deal of simplicity and an aversion to all world conformity. Several concrete examples are the reading of God’s Word at set times; the singing of psalters with the organ; and together bowing the knees with the entire family on God’s Day. The modern media is avoided as far as it serves for entertainment. Women generally wear their hair long, the girls do not dress in pants, culottes, or whatever item of clothes would appear on the market as emancipation clothing. In short, church membership is recognized by holding fast to external characteristics, even though they cannot always be related directly back to God’s Word.

How is it now? Understand, although related from days gone by, it does not imply that it is no longer that way among us. However, if not mistaken, this lifestyle is coming under more and more pressure—pressure from the side of the world. That has always been the case, but it is becoming worse. The world has never understood the Rechabites, and therefore does not want anything to do with them because the world does not understand the basic reason for their separate lifestyle. The world mocks them as Pharisaical hypocrites and speaks laughingly about them as the “Staphorst variant” (Staphorst is a conservative village in the Netherlands), and only shows interest when they can report on a scandal in the circle of the Rechabites. Unfortunately, our lifestyle is also coming under pressure from a side where we would not expect it. When Dr. C.S.L. Janse in his dissertation of “Bewaar het Pand” (the name of a conservative group within the Dutch Reformed Church which literally means, ‘keep the truth’) typified the “experiential Reformed” and marked some of their visible characteristics, he was met with a stream of criticism.

An important representative of the “Gereformeerde Bond” (a conservative branch of the Dutch Reformed Church) stated that such outward experiences have nothing to do with such characteristics. Not to mention, many (even ministers) do not become tired in declaring that we should stop talking about such outward things, that today’s youth can easily “see through them,” that it concerns the inward life and not the form; emphasis should not be placed upon such a group’s characteristics, etc. There is even a new term used for matters which concern the lifestyle, namely “the small tradition.” What must we think of these things? Is there not a realistic danger that we can become obsessed with such outward matters without having an eye for the necessity of heart-renewing grace? I would be the last one to deny that there is. Is not the need of our times, rather, that there is so little seen of the life of grace? I fully agree. Was there not, by holding fast to the outward form, much maintaining of a dead form service in former years? Certainly! Must we not be afraid of the danger of legalism? Certainly.

Yet, the question written above this article keeps coming back. Are there still Rechabites? Perhaps even among the Rechabites there were legalistic people. It will also not all have been gold that glittered. Take a moment to read Jeremiah 35 and note how the Lord commends their lifestyle. Study the marginal notes associated with this chapter which delve deeper into the motives which Jonadab must have had to prescribe such not so light commandments. Let our young people especially learn from the Rechabites that in addition to senseless traditions there are also very worthy traditions. In addition, it is not always necessary that God’s Word specifically demands or forbids certain matters, parents can also have sound reasons when they request or demand something of their children. Finally, ask that the Lord Himself would powerfully take up the cause for many of those despised and non-conformed Rechabites.

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