Jeremiah 37:11

 Jeremiah 37:11 says, And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,  The Chaldean army broke away from Jerusalem for fear of the Pharaoh's army.  Things appeared to be going better for Jerusalem to not be defeated by the Chaldeans as Jeremiah had prophesied that they would.  It may appear to someone that their life is going very well without God, but that person can be certain that it will not end well.  Verse twelve adds, Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself thence in the midst of the people.  Jeremiah decided at this time to get out of Jerusalem and away from the people there.  We are not told that God instructed him to do so.  Verse thirteen states, And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.  As he was leaving, Jeremiah was arrested and accused of having been going over to the Chaldeans and leaving with them or to go to them.  Since Jeremiah had been predicting their victory and they were leaving, this would have been the possible motive for his actions.  We should not be surprised if people today misinterpret our actions as we proclaim God's word and live for Him, but we must always make sure that our actions are in obedience to God's word.  Verse fourteen declares, Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.  Jeremiah denied the charge, but Iriiah would not believe him and brought him before the princes, or those who ruled Judah and Jerusalem.  Verse fifteen adds, Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.  The princes were angry with Jeremiah, beat him and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan, which had been turned into a prison.  The princes were already upset with Jeremiah for his prophesy from God, and may have seen this as an opportunity to silence him forever.  Even though Jeremiah was not prophesying at the time he was arrested, he was still known for his prophesies by the princes.  We should not be surprised if those who oppose the word of God and God Himself use every opportunity they get to attempt to silence and discredit those who are speaking the truth of God.  Verse sixteen says, When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;  Then verse seventeen adds, Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.  After Jeremiah had  been in the prison for several days, Zedekiah the king sent for him.  This was probably after the Chaldean army had returned, and now Zedekiah desired a private meeting with Jeremiah and asked him if he had had a word from God.  Zedekiah seemed to value the truth of Jeremiah being a prophet of God.  Jeremiah once more told Zedekiah that the land would be delivered to the hand of the Chaldeans.  No matter how successful we may seem to be in this life, if we do not believe the word of God, then we will ultimately face everlasting destruction.  Verse eighteen asks, Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?  Jeremiah asked the king what he had done to deserve being put in prison.  It was a fair question, and if we are falsely accused and imprisoned today, we must never quit proclaiming God's word.  Verse nineteen adds, Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?  Jeremiah wanted to know why the false prophets had not been imprisoned as he had been, since they were both guilty only of prophesying.  Time would prove which was the true prophet.  Verse twenty states, Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.  Jeremiah very humbly asked the king to not return him to prison, since if he did, Jeremiah said he could die there.  Even though he was God's prophet, he did not demand that the king not return him to prison.  I don't believe that we should use our relationship with God as followers of Christ to attempt to make personal demands on people of the world.  Verse twenty-one adds, Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.  Jeremiah was not returned to the dungeon, but was held in the court of the prison and was fed a piece of bread each day.  When we hear someone say that God would not want us unhappy if we are a follower of Christ, we need to look back to those who were doing God's work in the Bible and how they were often treated to realize that this is not true, at least based on having or not having material wealth.  We can also look to the life of Jesus to realize that being happy and materially successful in this world is not the key to having a relationship with God.

Jeremiah 37:1

Jeremiah 37:1 says, And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.  Zedekiah had become king in place of Coniah, whom Nebuchadrezzar had appointed king.  We aren't told how.  Verse two adds, But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the LORD, which he spake by the prophet Jeremiah.  We are told that Zedekiah nor any of the people of Judah listened to and obeyed the word of God given by Jeremiah.  No matter if all the people in charge refuse to listen to God, we must never stop doing so.  Verse threes states, And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.  Zedekiah sent some people, one the son of a priest, to Jeremiah and asked that Jeremiah pray to the LORD for them, even though thy were not willing to hear what God had already said to them through Jeremiah.  There is no sense in praying or asking anyone else to pray for something if we aren't willing to listen to God when He has already given us the answer.  The king was wanting Jeremiah to have God tell him what he wanted to hear.  Verse four declares, Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison.  Jeremiah had been in prison for proclaiming God's word, but he was let out at least for this time.  The king had imprisoned Jeremiah for speaking God's truth, but now he freed him asking for a different answer.  Verse five states, Then Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.  During this time, the army of the Chaldeans left Jerusalem to go and meet the pharaoh of Egypt.  The people of Jerusalem may have felt that they were saved.  If we are delivered out of a bad situation today, especially one that is a result of disobedience to God, we can be certain that it is only a temporary deliverance, just as it was for Jerusalem.  Verse six declares, Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,  Verse seven adds, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to inquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.  God's word for Zedekiah was that Pharaoh's army. which Zedekiah thought was there to help him, would return to Egypt.  Zedekiah had called for Jeremiah to pray for the people of Judah that what God had said was going to happen might not, and it appeared that the people were going to be spared defeat, but God's message for them had not changed.  Verse eight continues, And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.  God told Jeremiah to tell the king that the Chaldeans would return again and burn the city of Jerusalem.  Even if lost people see what they think is success without God. God's word tells them that it is only temporary.  Verse nine declares, Thus saith the LORD; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.  God said for Jeremiah to tell the people of Jerusalem to not be deceived by saying that the Chaldeans would depart, because they certainly would not.  People should not fool themselves today by thinking that God's judgment is not going to come, because it certainly will.  Verse ten adds, For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.  God said that even if the people of Judah were to have defeated all but a few of the army of the Chaldeans, that those who were left would rise up and defeat them.  We may think that we have defeated sin in our life today, but if we stray away from God and doing His will, then even the smallest sin will rise up again and defeat us.  Once more, this does not mean that we will lose our salvation, but we will certainly lose our effectiveness for God.

Jeremiah 36:21

 Jeremiah 36:21 says, So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.  The king had Jehudi to get the scroll and read it to all the princes and him.  He did not have Baruch to come and read it, though he would have been better able to read it and even explain it if asked.  Matthew Henry says that Jehudi was a page of the king.  Verse twenty-two states,, Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.  The king was in his  winter home with a fire burning.  Verse twenty-three adds,  And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.  Jehudi had only read a part of the book before the king cut part of it off and began burning it.  He obviously did not like what was being said.  The king cut it and threw it piece by piece into the fire.  People may think that they can destroy God's word by physically burning His written word, the Bible, but it will never be destroyed.  Verse twenty-four declares, Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.  None of his princes nor the king were affected by what they heard.  God's word should have caused them to repent and turn away from their sins in true remorse, but they were not afraid of what His word had to say, nor were they afraid for having destroyed it.  God's word today has no impact on more people than it has impact on, but it is the truth none the less.  Verse twenty-five adds, Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.  Three of the princes tried to stop the king from burning the book or scroll, but the king would not listen to them.  Whether they believed what was being read or not is not clear, but they at least recognized that the written word of God should not be destroyed.  Verse twenty-six says, But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.  The king was going to have Baruch and Jeremiah arrested, but God hid them.  The king maty have burned the scroll, but he was not allowed to seize those who God had used to write His word down.  As long as we are doing God's work and following His will we will always be secure in His hands.  Verse twenty-seven declares, Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,  Then verse twenty-eight adds, Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.  The word of God came to Jeremiah telling him to write the scroll again.  God's word cannot be destroyed by man.  Verse twenty-nine states, And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?  Not only was Jeremiah to write the scroll again, but he was to go to the king and answer his question as to why Jeremiah had said that Judah was going to be defeated by Babylon.  The king did not want to hear God's word, but he could not stop it from being proclaimed.  People today may not want to her the word of God, but they cannot stop it from being the truth no matter how hard they try.  Verse thirty declares, Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.  God said that Jehoiakim would have no descendant to sit on the throne and that he himself would die and his body would be left in the street.  Verse thirty-one adds, And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.  God said that He was going to bring the judgment for their sins upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah, as well as upon the king.  Verse thirty-two states, Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.  Jeremiah with Baruch not only rewrote the scroll, but even more was added to it.  These added words were not Jeremiah's but were additions made by God.  We cannot add to or take away from God's written word today.

Jeremiah 36:11

Jeremiah 36:11 says, When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,  Michaiah heard the word of the LORD that Baruch had read.  Verse twelve adds, Then he went down into the king’s house, into the scribe’s chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.  Michaiah then went to the king's house to the scribe's chamber.  Matthew Henry points out that even though a fast had been declared, that the princes and scribes, or at least some of them, did not participate in it, which would indicate that it was more for show than from real conviction.  Religious ceremonies that are just for show have very little significance, and if we are at a worship service just for show, then it is of little spiritual significance.  Verse thirteen states, Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.  Michaiah must have at least been listening to Baruch, because we are told that he declared all the words that Baruch had spoken to these princes and scribes.  In order to share God's word. we must first receive His word, and the Bible is the best source.  We may share what a preacher says, but we must make sure that it is consistent with the Bible. Verse fourteen declares, Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.  The princes and scribes gathered there sent for Baruch and told him to bring the scroll with him.  Michaiah may have told them what Baruch had read, but they were going to the source.  We today must go to the source, God's written word, if we want to be certain about what God has to say.  These princes and scribes could have already heard what God had to say through what Jeremiah had written and Baruch had read, but they did not go to hear it, but had Baruch brought to them instead.  Some people will always feel that it is beneath them to go to where God's word is being proclaimed.  Verse fifteen adds, And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.  After Baruch got there, they told him to read the scroll to them so that they might hear it with their own ears.  Baruch did not argue or say that he had already read it if they had only shown up to hear, but he read it again.  No matter how many times we share the gospel, we must always be ready to share it again, without any complaint.  Verse sixteen states, Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.  When the princes and scribes heard what God had to say, they were afraid, but they said that they would surely share it all with the king.  I believe they were more afraid of what the king's reaction would be than they were of what God had to say,  We cannot let fear of what the people in power may say prevent us from proclaiming the truth of God.  Verse seventeen asks, And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?  They then asked Baruch how he had come to know these words to write.  People will always question the source of the scripture, especially if it does not agree with what they want to believe or even if it may go against what those in power would claim to be the truth.  Verse eighteen states, Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.  Baruch said that Jeremiah pronounced all the words with his mouth, and that Baruch simply wrote them down.  Still, God was the source of these words, just as He is the source of the Bible.  Verse nineteen declares, Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.  They told Baruch that Jeremiah and he should go and hide.  This was not a message that the king would want to hear.  They at least did not keep Baruch there for the king, but told him to go to Jeremiah and then go hide.  Verse twenty states, And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.  They went to the king and told him what the scroll had to say.  They did not take Baruch to read it, though he or even Jeremiah himself would have been the best one to do so.

Jeremiah 36:1

 Jeremiah 36:1 says, And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,  Verse two adds, Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.  God's word came to Jeremiah telling him to write a scroll of everything that God had spoken to him against Israel, Judah and all the nations.  We today have God's word that He has spoken through the centuries preserved for us, and it is the Bible.  Verse three states, It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.  God said that when Jeremiah wrote it all down that maybe the people of Judah would read it and learn what God proposed to do to them because of their sin and would return to Him.  We as followers of Christ should hope that people would read the Bible today, or even hear someone share it with them, and would learn what fate awaits them if they do not accept Christ as their Savior and Lord and turn to Him for forgiveness.  Verse four says, Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.  Jeremiah had Baruch do the actual writing of the scroll, but it was the word of God that Jeremiah had received that he gave to Baruch to write.  Verse five declares, And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:  Jeremiah told Baruch that he was shut up, or imprisoned, and could not go to God's house.  Even though he was God's faithful prophet, Jeremiah was still imprisoned.  We must continue to do what God calls on us to do, no matter our situation in this world.  Verse six adds, Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD’s house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.  Jeremiah sent Baruch to read the scroll to the people of Judah who came out of their houses on the fasting day.  Jeremiah may not have been able to be there, but God's word still could.  We need to spread God's word however we can today, even if we cannot do so in person.  Verse seven continues, It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.  Jeremiah said that after hearing the anger of God that was pronounced against them that maybe the people of God would return to God.  If people today do not respond to God's words of love, we would hope that they would respond and come to salvation through Christ simply to avoid His wrath, but we know that is too often not the case.  Still we should present God's word in the hope that people will listen.  Verse eight states, And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD’s house.  Baruch did as Jeremiah instructed him to do.  Verse nine adds, And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.  The next year a fast was declared before the Lord and the people of Judah and Jerusalem came to the house of the LORD.  The reading of the scroll was not immediate, but it was done at the time God had designated.  Verse ten concludes, Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s house, in the ears of all the people.  Baruch read the scroll where all the people would hear.  We must likewise proclaim God's word for all the people to hear, especially those who are still in need of salvation.  God will provide us with the opportunity to do so if we only listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah 35:12

 Jeremiah 35:12 says, Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, Verse thirteen adds, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.  This time, the word of the LORD was a question for Jeremiah to ask the people of Judah and Jerusalem.  God once again identified Himself, stating that He was the LORD of hosts and the God of Israel.  God is the God of all creation, but the people of Israel of which Judah and Jerusalem were a part whether they were acknowledging it or not, were those who were supposedly in a covenant relationship with God.  God asked if they would not receive His instruction and hear His word.  We need to live in obedience to God as followers of Christ so that He never has to ask us the same question.  Verse fourteen states, The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.  God then held the Rechabites up as an example.  He said that Jonadab, the son of Rechab commanded his sons to not drink wine, and they still continued to obey his command, but that God had spoken to those who were called His people from early in the morning to late at night and they did not obey His command.  We need to never be more faithful to some man or man made tradition than we are to the word of God and His commandments.  Verse fifteen adds, I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.  God then says that He had sent prophets calling on His people to turn from their idolatry and wicked ways and to return to Him and He would keep them safe in the land that He had given them, but that they would not listen to the prophets.  We need to listen to God's word today as Christians if we are to be successful in our spiritual life.  Verse sixteen declares, Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me:  God once again cited the obedience of the sons of Jonadab and the lack of obedience of the people of Judah and Jerusalem.  Verse seventeen adds, Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.  God said that He was going to bring punishment to the people of Judah and Jerusalem because they would not listen to His word and live in obedience to Him.  Being a part of a Christian family or even what is called a Christian nation will never save anyone.  We must individually listen to God's call to salvation and personally respond to it to be saved and become a part of His family.  Verse eighteen states, And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you:  Then verse nineteen adds, Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.  God said that the obedience of the people of Rechab would be rewarded by always having someone to stand before Him.  I believe that this had to do with more than just following Jonadab's rules, but obeying God Who Jonadab represented.  We cannot be saved simply by obeying man made rules, but must live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit if we are truly God's people, and if we do we will be rewarded with everlasting life with God.

Jeremiah 35:1

Jeremiah 35:1  says,  The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Jeremiah prophesied during the reign of different kings we will note.  Verse two adds, Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.  God instructed Jeremiah to go to the Rechabites and invite them into the house of the LORD and to give them wine to drink.  Matthew Henry said that the Rechabites separated themselves from the rest of Israel, lived in tents and did not drink wine.  They were already living in houses instead of tents because of necessity, so this would be a test to see if they would break their other vow when it was not of necessity.  It is one thing to do something out of necessity and another to do it simply because we may have found it necessary to give in to a certain religious practice just because we have failed in another.  Verse three states, Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;  Verse four adds, And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:  Jeremiah brought the Rechabites into the temple as God had commanded him to do.  Verse five declares, And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.  Jeremiah said he set pots full of wine and cups before them.  This was in the house of God and would have been at no cost to them.  Yet, it would have broken their vow to God to drink it.  Not everything that happens in the church building today may agree with our own personal vow to God, and if it doesn't, even if other believers do it, we must refrain from dong so.  Verse six adds, But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:  The Rechabites declined to drink the wine because of the vow to their father.  Verse seven continues, Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.  They also brought up the fact that they were not to build houses or plant vineyards according to the command of Rechab.  Verse eight states, Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;  They said that they had obeyed the commands of Rechab.  Verse nine adds, Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:  They repeated the vow to not build houses or plant vineyards.  They may have been living in houses at this time, but they had not built them and did not consider them a permanent home.  Verse ten continues, But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. Then verse eleven concludes, But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.  The Rechabites said that they came to Jerusalem out of fear of the army of the Chaldeans.  Again, they weren't there to establish permanent homes.  We should never allow anything to come between God and us, but if we have made a vow to God we should do our best to keep it, even if everything seems to be going wrong around us.