GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP | 恩道堂

In contrast to the unfaithfulness of the slave owners and leaders, God points to the faithfulness of the Rechabites. Their forefather, Jonadab son of Rechab, commanded his descendants to live a nomadic life and not to drink wine in order to honor God. Jonadab lived during the apostate time of the northern kingdom, Israel (2 Kgs. 10:15-23). His descendants willingly obeyed Jonadab’s command. By their own choice, they were convicted to live a nomadic life and stuck to their conviction like their father Jonadab.

Unlike the faithful Rechabites, the Jews in Jerusalem were faithless. They covenanted themselves to free their slaves but then they rescinded their promise later. For their treachery, they deserve to die. However, as for the Rechabites, their family line will exist forever.

This chapter is not about God desiring believers to live a nomadic life. It is about God’s desire for us to be faithful by fulfilling our commitment. This principle is again upheld in Romans 14:5-9, 22-23. In the area of Christian freedom, that is, in areas that are not prohibited by God, one can covenant with God to perform something in order to honor God. For example, Paul covenanted with God in Acts 18:18 to cut his hair because he made a vow with God for some unstated reason. His vow was a way to honor God. God is not approving Paul’s hair cut, nor does He desire every believer to cut his hair. However, He is pleased by Paul’s vow to honor Him. Christians can still make such vows to God, but make sure you fulfill it because it is a serious sin to not fulfill your vow to God. Making vows to God is a serious thing, do not foolishly and hastily make vows to God or you will end up feeling the pain of Jephthah (Judg. 11:29-40). Jonathan Edwards’ resolutions were not vows to God, but to himself and he depended on God’s grace to fulfill his resolutions in order to honor God. This is the type of vow that Christians make most of the time. It is the Christian equivalent of freewill offering in the OT (Lev. 7:16). Pray that you will make such vows in order to honor God and depend on His grace to fulfill them. Such vows are done out of thanksgiving and dedication to God. This is pleasing to God.

与那不信实的奴隶主人和领袖相比，神表扬了利甲族人的信实。他们的先祖利甲的儿子约拿达曾吩咐其后裔要过游牧生活，并且要敬畏神，不能喝酒。约拿达是在北国以色列不信神的时期生活的（王下10:15-23）。他的后裔乐意顺服约拿达的吩咐。因其自身的选择，他们甘愿过游牧的生活并坚持其父亲约拿达的信念。

在耶路撒冷的犹太人却不忠不信，不像信实的利甲族人那样。他们立定盟约要释放其奴隶，之后却反悔。因他们背信弃义，他们罪有应得。相反的，利甲族人将永远长存。

这个篇章的主要内容并非神渴望信徒过游牧生活；神渴望的是我们忠心履行个人的承诺。罗马书14:5-9, 22-23支持同样的原则。至于基督徒的自由，只要不是神禁止的事，人可以与神立约行事荣耀祂。例如在使徒行传18:18中，保罗为了某些缘故与神立约许愿后，剪了头发还愿。他的愿是敬畏神的一种方式。神不是在赞赏保罗剪头发，也不渴望每个信徒都剪头发。然而，神喜悦保罗因着敬畏祂而做的事。基督徒仍可以向神许愿，但也要确保你还愿，因为不向神还愿可是严重的罪。向神许愿是严肃的事，不要愚昧地或冒然地向神许愿，否则你将尝到如耶弗所受的痛苦（士11:29-40）。爱德华兹（Jonathan Edward）

完成此愿是出于对神的感恩与奉献。这是蒙神喜悦的。