“ASK FOR THE OLD PATHS’
INTRODUCTION
I. The Israelites of old were admonished to “ask for the old path” (ancient paths, NKJV) as seen in this passage which reads, “Thus says the Lord, Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths. Where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.”
A. This passage has 4 parts: AUTHORITY (“Thus says the LORD”), INSTRUCTION (“Stand in the ways, see, ask for the old paths..walk in it”, PROMISES (where the good way is” and “Then ye shall find rest for your souls”, then the predicted RESPONSE (“We will not walk in it.”
B. The “old paths” must exist, else the Lord would not have promised it to the people
1. This admonition was given some 900 years after the Law of Moses was given, and 600 years before Christ.
2. Now, what was good for Israel might well be good for those living in the gospel age. Rom. 15:4
3. What anyone needs to each of these admonitions, contains the MIND of God, but it has been revealed in the written word, the scripture.
II. Now let’s make a more thorough study of Jeremiah’s admonition.
DISCUSSION
I. 1st, the AUTHORITY OF THE WORD.
Text: Jer. 6:16, “Thus says the Lord.”
A. Doubtless, the appeal in ALL the Bible is to submit to the “word of the Lord, for it does contain the written
“authority for every one in his effort to obey and please God.
B. God has various laws in the past to guide His people, but now all men accountable for what He says in the New Testament. Matt. 18:18-20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; John 12:48; Col. 3:17
II. 2nd, the INSTRUCTIONS OF THE WORD.
Text: Jer. 6:16, “Stand in the way and See, and Ask for the old Paths and Walk in them.”
A. Jeremiah had already warned about what happens to those who reject God’s word. Jer. 5:30-31
1. The false prophets had deceived the people. Isa. 30:1, 8-14, 21; Jer. 16:21-22
2. Jeremiah then admonishes the people to turn back to God.
B. Specifically, there are 2 things Jeremiah is telling the people to DO
1. 1st, they we re to stand in the ways of life, which were many.
a. There were the ways of the “Gentiles”, or heathen. Jer. 10:2
b. There were the ways of idolatry and its false worship of idols.
c. There was the and is the way of the world. Rom. 12:2; 1 John 2:15-17
d. The re are the ways of riches and greed. Jude 11; Jas. 2:11
e. There are the ways of sinners and the rebellious. Psalms 1:1; Prov. 14:12
f. There is the way of the drunkards. Prov. 20:1; 23:31-32
g. There is the way of the adulterers. Prov. 30:20.
2. We today need to stand in the ways of those following evil and see the consequences, and their need for following in the way of the Lord.
III. 3Rd, the PROMISE OF THE WORD.
Text: Jer. 6:16, “Where the good way is.”
A. God contrasts HIS way with the ways of the world, and calls HIS “good”, for it is the way of forgiveness and spiritual life that leads to eternal life. Prov. 14:12; Rom. 6:23
B. HIS way is available for ALL men, if they choose to see it and accept it.
IV, 4th, the RESPONSE OF THE WORD.
Text: Jer. 6:16, :But they said, We will not walk in it.”
A. This response begins with the word “but”, which describes the general response as a contrast of God’s offer, with it’s rejection.
1, The response is a REFUSAL–”We will not walk in it.”
2. Even today, the offer is still there and people REFUSE to accept it, for various reasons.
a. Some refuse because they are so entangled with the physical things of the world and have no interest in the spiritual things.
b. Some refuse because they are so in love with the sinful things of the world that they don’t WANT anything else. 1 John 2:15-17
c. Others are so involved in the “pleasures’ (though not necessarily sinful in themselves) that they are content with those things.
d. Still others are led away with false religions of the way and satisfy their spiritual needs in accepting what the religious world has to offer, rather than what God has said and promised.
B. Only what GOD offers is of any real and everlasting value.
Conclusion
I. We plead with the world to accept Christ in obedience and become His children. John 1:12; Gal. 3;16-17
II. Have you done so?
Don Tarbet
