What is the meaning of Jeremiah 35:12? Then • The adverb signals a specific moment following the Rechabite test in verses 1–11. God never speaks at random; He addresses His people at decisive junctures. • Earlier, Jeremiah had arranged wine before the Rechabites and recorded their obedience to ancestral commands (Jeremiah 35:1–11). Once that lesson was established, God spoke. • Similar divine timing appears when “Then the LORD said to Noah, ‘Enter the ark’ ” (Genesis 7:1) and “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand’ ” (Exodus 14:26). Each “then” highlights God’s orderly progression of revelation and action. the word of the LORD • God’s word is personal, authoritative, and infallible. It is never mere opinion; it carries the full weight of the One who speaks (Isaiah 55:10–11; Psalm 33:6, 9). • Jeremiah did not receive a vague impression but a definite communication—“the word.” This underscores verbal inspiration, echoed in “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). • The phrase underlines covenant faithfulness. When God speaks, He keeps His promises (Numbers 23:19). In this chapter, His word will exalt the faithful Rechabites and warn disobedient Judah (Jeremiah 35:13–19). came to Jeremiah • The verb “came” shows initiative from God toward His prophet. Jeremiah did not conjure a message; it arrived by divine grace. The same formula appears in Jeremiah 1:2, 2:1, and 46:1, highlighting an ongoing prophetic relationship. • God chooses human instruments—“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). • Jeremiah’s reception models obedience. Though under social pressure and facing hostility (Jeremiah 20:1–2), he remains open to God’s voice, paralleling Samuel’s “Speak, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). summary Jeremiah 35:12, brief as it is, anchors the lesson of the Rechabites in divine authority and perfect timing. “Then” points to God’s deliberate sequencing, “the word of the LORD” affirms the reliability and power of Scripture, and “came to Jeremiah” showcases God’s gracious initiative in using faithful servants. The verse reminds believers to wait for God’s timing, trust His unfailing word, and remain ready vessels for His message. |
    |