Since we’ve left the old year behind and entered a new one, we look forward. Right?
But what about looking back? Should we? Seems so when we travel back to biblical Jerusalem in Jeremiah’s time and see what was going on there.
No wonder this man was known as “the weeping prophet” as he witnessed
the Jewish people repeatedly turning against God. And how many chapters in the
Book of Jeremiah does God say He will discipline them but not utterly destroy
them?
But the people fail to heed God’s Words via Jeremiah. Still by Chapter 6
& Verse 16 God gives these ones who are so precious to Him (yet outright
disobedient) excellent guidance.
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.’”
Ancient paths. Ways known to the
people. Traveled before the time they turned their backs and hearts away from
God. Had they forgotten how He guided them? Showed them right from wrong? Rescued
them? Met them in worship? Gave rest in their utter weariness?
Yes, they did. Still, in looking back and beckoning them to embrace the
old paths—the former ways—God had good for them, rest, restoration, spiritual
renewal, and the promise that this return would benefit them in the very best
way possible.
Further on in Jeremiah, the Lord again expresses the desire of His
Heart—for His people to return to the ancient paths.
There are other times in God’s Word where He told the Jewish people to,
for example, build an altar that would actually end up under water but serve as
a remembrance—a looking back—how God led them, saved them from drowning,
carried them forward.
Our very patient God didn’t give up! He
doesn’t quit on us. And He won’t give up on you either.
Look for the “ancient paths,” dear
readers! They will remind you, encourage you, bolster your faith, provide rest
and refuge for your soul!
The ancient paths are where we met good, laid the cornerstone of our
faith, learned morals, understood the importance of godliness, and embraced God’s
guidance—paths that are still there for our return, if we just remember and
backtrack.
In contemplating this call for us to return, I consider the path our
world is on. Our nation, in particular, as we celebrate this 250th
anniversary of our birth.
Our forefathers prayed over this United States of America—a covenant
nation, founded on God and His Ways. If it were possible for them to “turn in
their graves,” I’m sure they’d be doing so now—for we’ve neglected the old path
they carved out for us, clearing the way to build this great nation’s
foundation on God—just like the Jewish people in Jeremiah’s time did. No
mistaking their rebellion, as they state at the close of Jeremiah 6:16:
But they said, ‘We
will not walk in it.’”
Talk about gall! Can you even comprehend facing God (which is what they
were doing through the prophet who spoke for Him) and raising a verbal fist to
His Face???
Oh wait. Yes, we can imagine it. Sounds familiar. If any of you’ve
watched the news lately, there are great crowds of people standing against In-God-We-Trust.
What a tragedy that this is the state of so many in our nation—our “under God”
covenant country.
How did this happen? The people forgot the old paths (or choose not to
return to them), disregarded the teachings they might have learned there (or
weren’t taught), rejected God’s guidance in exchange for their own sinful ways
(even embracing “false gods” instead).
There is Hope, though! There always is. For God is still beckoning His
creations to visit the ancient paths—urging them to spend time there rest in
Him, and heed to the guidance of the One Who leads the way onward.
Oh, that we of this nation will turn back, seek and find the old ways,
and carry those with us as we move forward onto the path lying before us!
And, oh, that we who claim to love the Lord with all our hearts will not
neglect what we learned and experienced from our times on the ancient paths as
we travel onward!
Show Us the Ancient Paths (by
Tom Inglis)
Show
Us The Ancient Path - Tom Inglis
#ancientpaths #Godleading #Godshowstheway
#rebellion #Jeremiah #weepingprophet
#UnitedStates #covenantnation
*NASB / Photo credit: aninspiredpencil.com