Text: Jer 6:16
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. KJV
“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.’ NIV
The Ancient Path
There are a few key words in the text that we need to clarify as we consider this topic.
The Ancient paths are or is the old, good, godly, tried, reliable, and eternal way. It is the way the fathers of faith followed. It is the way that gave them peace with God and rest in their circumstances. It preserved their relationship with God and helped them to overcome difficult challenges, that confronted them. As long as Adam kept following that way- obeying the command of God, he had peace with God and his environment. Eden was his safe haven. When Abraham for a time left the path- yielded to the temptation to help himself and not rely and wait on God’s promise- he found himself alone without the presence of God for at least thirteen years Gen 17:1. Whenever Israel obeyed God’s laws, they made a choice of life and not a curse Dt 30:19-20. To choose life is to listen to and obey God’s voice, to cling to God because He is our very life. That Ancient path as explained by Joshua is to fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD Josh 24:14-15. To serve the LORD is to submit to His ways revealed in His Word, which He commands us to obey. Elijah also had something to say on this matter: And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word 1 Kgs 18:21. Follow Him, worship Him, obey Him, serve Him, Honour Him. If the LORD is God.
In trying to understand this Ancient paths, Jesus has the final say. Mt 11:29 is closely related to Jer 6:16.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Mt 11:28-30
So, the ancient path is the commandments of God (the Word of God) which Christ fully revealed to us. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 1 Jn 5:3
Our Context
It is important for us to limit this topic to a context. I want to speak within the context of our present insecurity experiences in the nation and the relevance of the ancient path today.
Certain words have been trending in the Nigerian tabloids. Words like insecurity, kidnapping, banditry, terrorism etc are repeated daily and everywhere we turn. Social media platforms like Facebook and Tiktok in the last weeks have portrayed the present state of the church in response to the current challenges. Pastors or church leaders now brazenly encourage their members to come to church meetings with weapons to defend themselves. One particularly caught my attention because it was disturbing. A young ‘Apostle’ said, “Psalm 91 cannot save you in these times. You need to defend yourself or you will die for nothing and if you die, you won’t rest in peace because you allowed your life to be cut short.” Such pronouncements make some of us who still believe in the ancient paths to ask, “What is our future in the ancient path?”
We know God can do many things, but will He really guarantee our protection if we remain faithful and obedient to His Word? The Bible says, love your enemies Mt 5:44; Do not resist an evil person Mt 5:39; vengeance is mine Rom 12:19 etc. Won’t our lives be wasted or count for nothing if we hold to the ancient path? Seeing our enemies are intent on destruction and are brutal, can we be as confident in God today as David was in Ps 27:1-3?
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. KJV
Can we and will we truly have rest in our circumstances by obeying the Word of God- the ancient path?
Gideon’s Cross-road– Judg 6:11-13
And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
Israel had been impoverished and destroyed by the Midianites for seven years. People could not farm or harvest. They could not raise cattle or chicken or sheep or anything, the Midianites would come and take them away or destroy them. Of course, Israel was under God’s judgment because they had turned from the Ancient path. They had forsaken God the Ancient of Days. Fear was the order of the day. There was no peace and no rest for anyone. It was in this situation that the Angel appeared to Gideon and said to him, “The LORD is with you…” Gideon was quick to respond, how can you say that Mr Angel or whatever you are… With all the things we are passing through? Where are the miracles of God? We cannot see the hand of God. We cannot see the interventions of God. The more we pray, the more the problems intensify.
Gideon was a the cross roads. He needed answers to be able to move forward. But to move forward he must deal with God. To move forward he must obey God’s Word. God told him to destroy the idols in his own house first Judg 6:25. We must come to the LORD’s side to experience God. We cannot stand where we are and move on with God. We must change our ways. Unless we do, we cannot experience and move with God.
We cannot take up weapons, trusting in the arm of flesh and expect God to work on our behalf. We must return to the ancient path of trusting in God’s way as revealed in His Word.
A way leading to rest
Pr 29:2- When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
Are we not mourning? Why are we mourning?
Rm 13:1-4
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
God instituted government as His agent to deal with evil. But when that leadership has lost its purpose, the people will groan. When the people of God also do not take government as an important part of their lives, they will suffer unnecessarily.
1 Tim 2:1-2
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
What are our responsibilities to ensure that our hopes of peace and rest are realized?
1. We must pray earnestly for those in Authority. Let us do so individually and collectively.
2. We must exercise our civil rights- to seek out men of good report and vote for them. It should not end there, let us ensure our votes count. What we should defend are our votes. Let us work towards a transparent and fair electoral system that makes our votes count.
3. We must live as faithful followers of Christ in our workplaces. Let us change the narrative of corruption by living godly lives of integrity. This is the beginning and upholding principle for a new nation. We are more than enough to effect a change if we live correctly as God wants us to. When God gives opportunities to influence the system and effect change, who is there?
This is the future that we must work towards to see the rest we desire.
May God grant us the grace to return to the Word of God, the ancient and eternal path. Amen.