16 This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest for your souls.
    But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’(Jeremiah 6:16)

Jeremiah was a major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophetic ministry during the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC, a turbulent period in Judah’s history. He warned the people of Judah about the impending destruction of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. If you would allow me, here is a layman’s interpretation. Their world was overrun with sin. Even before his birth Jeremiah was called to speak for the Lord to all nations, including Judah. He was based in Jerusalem during the peiords of several Judahite Kings, including Josiah, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. His message was simple enough. It included warnings of impending judgment from God to the Babylonian exile, but also contained prophecies of restoration and hope for the future, no prophet was ever to have an easy road that’s for sure and Jeremiah was no different, he faced opposition and persecution because of what he was preaching, including threats of prison and public humiliation. His deep sorrow over the scenes and suffering of his people came to cause him to be named the “Weeping Prophet.” As with many of the books of the Bible, the book of Jeremiah, which includes his prophecies and lament is attributed to him, though it is believed to have been compiled with the help of his scribe of Baruch. Baruch also plays a key role in the Book of Baruch, a deuterocanonical book attributed to him. Jeremiah continued to prophecy, even after the fall of Jerusalem and the beginning of the exile, sending messages to the exiles in Babylon.

Some years back a friend of mine and I were looking for material for a Sunday school class. Something that we could do that would be from the word and not kind of out of a can so to speak. In our search, we ran across this particular scripture from Jeremiah 6:16. I thought about that the other day and it occurred to me that perhaps in these days right now the way things are throughout the world and among all peoples that this is a good time too start looking for the “good way” once again. In Jeremiah, the 16th through 20th verse we see an accounting of the many things we have done and are doing that God finds displeasing. First of all the scripture encourages us to stop look around think just a little bit. We’re at a crossroads in our lives and what we should be looking for is  “the good way” and then find a way we can walk in it and we’ll find rest for our souls. The scripture tells us then that the people did not listen and we can look around us today and still people aren’t listening. I think Jeremiah makes it very plain that we’re all going to be witness to what happens to all nations  and all people. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God is making it known that there is a disaster coming. People will have to pay  because they are not listening to what he has asked of them and they rejected “the good way.” In verse 20, through Jeremiah God makes it very plain that their burnt offerings are no longer acceptable and that their sacrifices do not please him. Consider this if you will please. The Lord through the prophet not only spells out what is going to happen and why but also a sign once more to the divine frustration at disturbance of a people who are reminded again and again of their covenantal responsibilities, but refused to pay any attention or do anything about them. We must not overlook that in this context, a covenant is an agreement between God and his people.The Jewish faith is based on biblical covenants God made with Abraham, Moses, and David. There is another point here that we shouldn’t overlook, and that is the fact that Jeremiah’s frustration and anger are often directed to the Lord, so it’s kind of easy to miss the fact that this frustration and anger are also shared by the one who commissioned him, that being God. God loves his people and his creation and again and again we see him sending them signals and signs that are ignored, even suggesting where they can look to find a better life rather than death. Jeremiah’s prophecies are full of announcements of judgment. They’re often dispersed with various calls to repentance. He also gives warning signs and indications of what is needed. One of the interesting things that we find here is that the Lord simply doesn’t just simply point out the sin and announce the judgment, there are times that there’s almost a painful kind of explanation because the bond between the people and their God is strong. It’s so strong that it seems God holds back the inevitable, even in the face of such stubborn refusal  by these people to live by the covenant that they made with God. In the first verse 16, the congregation is encouraged to look at their past history, to check its memory, defined the ways that have been forgotten, to remember the God who has delivered and directed them. They need to find their way back to the “good way.”

Next week we will continue to explore these verses and what is to come. The prophet Jeremiah has brought to the people, God’s word and message and God in his mercy and grace has provided instructions in the past as how to live the good life, the good way. So please join us next week as we look at how we can truly fine and walk in the “good way.”

Life is Good

jk