For a few months now I have had this verse on my fridge. I’m not sure where I picked it up. but I like it…
I have several verses on my fridge, but that’s a post on it’s own later.
So, this morning I read all of chapter 16. It’s not very long, but it is very powerful…here is the portion that contains this verse…
Jeremiah 6:8-16
“Be warned, O Jerusalem,
Or I shall be alienated from you,
And make you a desolation,
A land not inhabited.”
Thus says the LORD of hosts,
“They will thoroughly glean as the vine the remnant of Israel;
Pass your hand again like a grape gatherer
Over the branches.”To whom shall I speak and give warning
That they may hear?
Behold, their ears are closed
And they cannot listen
Behold, the word of the LORD has become a reproach to them;
They have no delight in it.
But I am full of the wrath of the LORD;
I am weary with holding it in”Pour it out on the children in the street
And on the gathering of young men together;
For both husband and wife shall be taken,
The aged and the very old.
“Their houses shall be turned over to others,
Their fields and their wives together;
For I will stretch out My hand
Against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the LORD.
“For from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is greedy for gain,
And from the prophet even to the priest
Everyone deals falsely.“They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
But there is no peace.
“Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done?
They were not even ashamed at all;
They did not even know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
At the time that I punish them,
They shall be cast down,” says the LORD.Thus says the LORD,
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it;
And you will find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Is it just me, or does that sound eerily familiar? Then, verse 16, instructions from the Lord, “Thus says the Lord”…come on people ..are you listening, tap-tap is this thing on, here’s what you need to do to remove yourselves from this situation…hello???
Nope, they said “We will not walk in it.” Why???? They are all greedy for gain, their eyes and ears are closed to the Lord. So, my question is, are my eyes and ears closed to the Lord? Am I one of those who is saying “No, I will not walk in the old ways! No thank you I would rather not have rest for my soul!”? I hope not! I know that is the desire of my heart, to walk in the old paths, to find rest for my soul. No amount of money or possessions can bring rest for my soul, no amount of turning my back on God can bring peace. So what must I do?
He says to stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths. We must search for it. We must ask for directions. From whom? Our peers? Will they know the old paths? Perhaps, but most likely not. We must seek the old paths from those who have walked them, those older than ourselves, more experienced, more mature in the Lord. (Remember, mature in years doesn’t mean mature in the Lord.)
I don’t think this verse is saying we shouldn’t have anything “new”. For example, new music (I love my praise and worship music!) I think that it is referring to lifestyle, to values…
Let’s look at Jeremiah 18:15
‘For My people have forgotten Me,
They burn incense to worthless gods
And they have stumbled from their ways,
From the ancient paths,
To walk in bypaths,
Not on a highway,
Are we making sacrifices in our lives to worthless gods? Are we sacrificing our children, our family, our friends, our eternity on the alter of pleasure? That’s not God’s way.
Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
Back to my favorite reminder “It’s not about me!” Being all about me, has gotten our country into a fine moral, spiritual and financial mess!
I think there is a practical side to this verse, as well as the Spiritual. Would you be able to care for your family if you had no outside support? If you had no grocery store to pop into, no credit to charge with? Before you think I am jumping on some bandwagon, hear me out. What will happen if we enter another depression? Am I suggesting you stock pile? No. Am I suggesting that learning some hands-on, take care of your family skills, might be a good idea? Yes! You all know I love to garden, which is a great practical skill, but what do I do if I can’ t afford the seeds? Hunting is a great way of supplying your family with food. Do you know how to skin a deer and properly process and store the meat?
We can look to these verses, penned for the Children of Isreal, and learn so much about God’s character. He says He is going to punish them for walking away from Him, and yet, He still gives them an out…How long will He hold back His punishment from our country? As a nation we have turned our back on God in so many ways! Will our country see the out He provides for us when the time of punishment comes??? That is my prayer!
You know, we have a great source of help. God cares for us! He has given us a wealth of knowledge, people who have walked the old paths. People who are walking in the old paths in their Spiritual lives, and those who have been through a depression, and know what it means to be frugal. We could learn so much from them! The question is will we avail ourselves of their knowledge, and the blessing the Lord has given to us through them? Or will we say “No, we will not walk in them.”?
Thank you, well said!