Ask for the Old Paths - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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Ask for the Old Paths

Jeremiah 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.

Intro: The Book of Jeremiah is a book of pointed and painful warnings to God’s people.

Jeremiah lived during the time of Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Daniel and Ezekiel.

His ministry spanned four decades.

He was so heartbroken over the spiritual condition of the people of Judah that he is called the “weeping prophet.”

· Jeremiah 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

His messages are filled with admonitions for God’s people to turn back to God.

They wouldn’t listen.

He faced extreme persecution and discouragement.

He preached against the princes, the priests and the people 1:18, 19.

His message was clear – turn back to God or face His wrath and judgment.

When I read chapter 6, I find an amazing correlation in what Jeremiah faced and we face today.

The similarities in our day, and the days of Jeremiah are astounding.

I. The Recognition of the Treachery – vs. 1-15 “…stand ye in the ways, and see…”

A. The Desecration that was Coordinated – vs. 2-5

· 2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.

· 3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.

· 4 Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.

· 5 Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.

· 6 For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.

B. The Destruction that was Continuous – vs. 7

· 7 As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.

C. The Departure that was Cautioned – vs. 8a

· 8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee;

SEE: Hosea 9:12 Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!

E. The Desolation that was Consuming – vs. 8b, 9

· 8b …lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

· 9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.

F. The Deafness that was Common – vs. 10

· 10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

G. The Disappointment that was Catastrophic – vs. 11, 12

· 11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.

· 12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.

H. The Dealings that were Covetous – vs. 13

· 13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness;

I. The Divine that was Corrupted

· 13b …and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

· 14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

J. The Depravity that was Calloused – vs. 15

· 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

II. The Request for the Timeless – “…ask for the old paths…”

How old are the “old paths?”

Whenever I say something about the old paths, the liberals pile on with their take on what it means.

The compromisers and apostates mock and scorn and jest and laugh.

They think - that I think - that the “old paths” is the King James Bible, old hymns and preaching in a tie.

That’s insane.

The Old Paths preached in Jeremiah 6 are way more controversial than that!!!

I can tell you this – it existed way before Jeremiah 6.

In fact, it had been around so long in Jeremiah 6 that it was called the “old” paths.

Old - as in timeless, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual

Path of the Life of God

· Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Path of the Righteousness of God

· Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Path of the Commandments of God

· Psalms 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Path of the Judgment of God

· Proverbs 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

Path of the Mercy and Truth of God

· Psalms 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

III. The Rest for the Troubled

A. From the Wandering

· Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Can you imagine the endless frustration of trying to find the right path with all the paths that Satan has to offer?

The way of the wicked is as darkness.

God describes their way as stumbling around in the darkness.

B. From the Worrying

The old paths are the good way because it gives rest from the uncertainties

· Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

· Psalms 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

C. From the Weariness

Proverbs 4

· 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

· 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

· 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

The Scripture is clear; those that walk in the path of the wicked sleep not; their sleep is taken away.

There is no rest outside of God and His path.

God promised those that took His path, that they would find rest for their soul.

Conclusion: How do you choose that old path? It starts with choosing Jesus Christ.

The old paths will find rest for your soul.

Coming to Jesus Christ will enable you to find rest for your soul.

Matthew 11

· 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest

· 29 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.

· 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.