Judah’s Apostasy, God’s Wrath (5:1-7:34)

RETURN TO THE OLD PATHS

Jeremiah 6:13-17

Reading:

Songs: Stepping In The Light

Theme: understanding the protection God gives to us

INTRODUCTION

A. When I was a young boy one of the favorite things to do was to change the names of the street signs taking one from one street and putting it on another street. When I first moved to the Pottersville area, I went to visit a family having been given directions but when I got to a fork in the road, the street signs didn’t match the directions. Someone must have turned them into the wrong directions. Fortunately I had a county road map in the car. I consulted it and was able to follow it to where it was I wanted to go. When people move the street markers it is difficult to impossible to get to where you wanted to go, if you do not know the way. Follow the marker in the wrong directions leads from where you wanted to go. A similar idea is true in spiritually.

B. The prophet Jeremiah was sent by God to the people of Judah to address their horrible condition in its last years before the exile to Babylon. They had gone so far astray from God in there walk that they would not even blush anymore over their sin. In having turned from listening to God’s word they had become superficial; spiritually lazy and complacent in their devotion to God. They even sought those who would tickle their ears; teaching that all was well when it was not well. The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with Judah to return to following God’s word but they refused. That was the state of Judah and the religious world around them.

C. There is generally, little difference religiously today. Found in many hymnals is the song, "The Old Time Religion." Contained within in the song are the words, "Give me that old time religion its good enough for me." It should be good enough for all of us, if indeed the meaning is the one faith. (Eph 4). However, when we examine the direction of the religiously wrong we learn there has been a shift that finds them, like Israel had, heading in a direction of tolerance of doctrinal error, sin and to a worship of entertainment. Such a direction has led them dealing with people on a more social level than one that is spiritual. Such direction has become familiar for many congregations of the Lord’s church where the focus had become number rather then obedience to the truth. The Apostle Paul warned of such a directional change in the church (2Ti 4:3-4).

D. Though it has been the plea of evangelists of churches of Christ for all to return to "old paths," as it was for Jeremiah with Judah, sadly, many have refused, who reply as Judah of old, that they "will not walk therein."

E. The prophet Jeremiah’s advice to Judah for avoiding calamity is as applicable to us today as it was for the people of Judah when it was given.

I. THE PATH TAKEN (6:9-15).

Consequences Of Corruption

A. To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear ... (6:9-12).

9 ¶ Thus saith <0559> (8804) the LORD <03068> of hosts <06635>, They shall throughly <05953> (8780) glean <05953> (8779) the remnant <07611> of Israel <03478> as a vine <01612>: turn back <07725> (8685) thine hand <03027> as a grapegatherer <01219> (8802) into the baskets <05552>.

10 To whom shall I speak <01696> (8762), and give warning <05749> (8686), that they may hear <08085> (8799)? behold, their ear <0241> is uncircumcised <06189>, and they cannot <03201> (8799) hearken <07181> (8687): behold, the word <01697> of the LORD <03068> is unto them a reproach <02781>; they have no delight <02654> (8799) in it.

1. So thorough was the devastation to be that was to come upon the Judah, the remnant of Israel, that it was described as grape gathering.

2. Judah was so obstinate toward hearing God’s word that they were described as having a skin over its ears which prevented it from hearing the Lord’s admonition.

3. Let’s consider our own ears for a moment. Are we obstinate to hearing the Lord’s admonitions through the scriptures, in our private study of them, in Bible classes or during the sermons?

a. Realizing we have heard the truth will fight it, complain against it or will we determine as individuals and as the church, come what may, to apply it to our lives.

11 Therefore I am full <04392> of the fury <02534> of the LORD <03068>; I am weary <03811> (8738) with holding in <03557> (8687): I will pour it out <08210> (8800) upon the children <05768> abroad <02351>, and upon the assembly <05475> of young men <0970> together <03162>: for even the husband <0376> with the wife <0802> shall be taken <03920> (8735), the aged <02205> with him that is full <04390> (8804) of days <03117>.

12 And their houses <01004> shall be turned <05437> (8738) unto others <0312>, with their fields <07704> and wives <0802> together <03162>: for I will stretch out <05186> (8686) my hand <03027> upon the inhabitants <03427> (8802) of the land <0776>, saith <05002> (8803) the LORD <03068>.

4. Jeremiah had come to a point with Judah that he could no longer with hold himself from speaking to them regarding their spiritual condition.

a. No one should ever with hold speaking the truth nor should any one prevent others from speaking the truth of God’s word.

b. The message of truth to all of Judah was that what they prized most; their material possessions were to be taken away from them.

B. ... every one is given to covetousness ... every one dealeth falsely ... (6:13-14).

13 For from the least <06996> of them even unto the greatest <01419> of them every one is given <01214> (8802) to covetousness <01215>; and from the prophet <05030> even unto the priest <03548> every one dealeth <06213> (8802) falsely <08267>.

14 They have healed <07495> (8762) also the hurt <07667> of the daughter <01323> (8676) of my people <05971> slightly <07043> (8738), saying <0559> (8800), Peace <07965>, peace <07965>; when there is no peace <07965>.

1. Judah had become a nation who has lost it’s way (Psa 33:12; Jer 18:15).

a. Their leaders who had become greedy and materialistic, had lost their fear of God and their love for him.

(1) They prophesied falsely and deceitfully.

(2) They told the people what they wanted to hear and not necessarily what the people needed to hear.

b. It is very easy when those leading are weak in their spiritual walk, to get caught up in a gospel of convenience, comfort with where you are as opposed to where you need to be, a gospel that permits you to think, say, or do anything you please.

(1) Such was the case for Judah.

(2) Such is the case for many congregations fo the Lord’s church.

(a) As God did through Jeremiah with Judah, Jesus had called for us to learn from him (Mat 11:28-30).

(b) Similarly he has called for us to learn from his apostles (Mat 28:19-20).

(d) It is what they were called to obey (2Th 2:14-15; 3:6).

c. However, having with held the truth, those who claimed to speak for God in Judah offered a false message of peace which made Judah feel good about themselves.

d. Consequently it caused Judah horrible spiritual problems

C. ... they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush ... (6:15).

15 Were they ashamed <03001> (8689) when they had committed <06213> (8804) abomination <08441>? nay <01571>, they were not at all <0954> (8800) ashamed <0954> (8799), neither <01571> could <03045> (8804) they blush <03637> (8687): therefore they shall fall <05307> (8799) among them that fall <05307> (8802): at the time <06256> that I visit <06485> (8804) them they shall be cast down <03782> (8735), saith <0559> (8804) the LORD <03068>.

1. Sin had so become a part of the life of the people that committing it, living as they were, didn’t cause them to feel embarrassment.

Transition: All of it was a result of the path they had taken. They needed to return the path on which they had started.

II. THE PATH FORSAKEN (6:16).

A. Stand ye in the ways ... ask for the old paths (6:16).

16 Thus saith <0559> (8804) the LORD <03068>, Stand <05975> (8798) ye in the ways <01870>, and see <07200> (8799), and ask <07592> (8798) for the old <05769> paths <05410>, where is the good <02896> way <01870>, and walk <03212> (8799) therein, and ye shall find <04672> (8798) rest <04771> for your souls <05315>. But they said <0559> (8799), We will not walk <03212> (8798) therein.

1. With this exhortation God was trying to redirect his people, to wake them up to reality, to their personal responsibility to stand, to see, to ask for and to walk rightly.

a. Similarly, Israel was commanded not to remove the ancient landmarks (Psa 22:28; Deu 19:14).

(1) The purpose of landmarks to direct attention to where one is either in relation to other places or in relation to what belongs to another person (Ro 6:16).

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

(2) We too must be careful not to remove the ancient landmarks erected by the preaching of the Lord and the preaching of his apostles.

b. Elsewhere Jeremiah wrote, “Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again ...” (Jer 31:21).

c. Jesus made a similar plea.

(1) He called for all to strive to enter the right path (Mat 7:13-14; Luk 13:24).

(2) The narrow way is through Jesus, that is obedience to what he taught and what he taught his apostles to teach (cf. Joh 14:6; Act 4:12).

d. The ways or the old paths were God’s written word, the way fo salvation, the narrow way.

(1) For Judah it was the Mosaical Code.

(2) For us it is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(3) Always people have been called to heed God’s word.

B. Hearken to the sound of the trumpet (6:17).

17 Also I set <06965> (8689) watchmen <06822> (8802) over you, saying, Hearken <07181> (8685) to the sound <06963> of the trumpet <07782>. But they said <0559> (8799), We will not hearken <07181> (8686).

1. When God is with us, and he is as long as we follow the old paths in which he has directed us; as long as we “hearken to the sound of the trumpet” and keep within the boundaries of the ancient landmarks he has set out for us, remain on the narrow way, then no one can stand successfully against us (Rom 8:31; 2Th 3:3; cp. Psa 27:1).

2. With the old paths God has given to us the way of truth and all should walk accordingly (Pro 14:12; 16:25; Jer 10:23).

a. Walking in the paths of instrumental music with spiritual songs are not the old paths (1Co 4:6).

b. Walking in the paths of calling ourselves by names foreign to scripture are the old paths (cp. Mat 16:18).

c. Walking in the paths of complacency (Act 2:42; 8:4) or sin (Gal 5:19-21) are not the old paths.

(1) Many do not use what God has given them to evangelize.

(2) Many have allowed sin to come into there homes, their lives, through media and to slowly rob them of godly morals, of their salvation.

(a) We must take heed to what we put into our minds ().

(b) What we take into our hearts is what comes out in our lives (Mat 15:18-19).

d. The ways or old paths well marked out by the Lord.

(1) They are the way of faith (Rom 14:23; 2Co 5:7).

(2) The faith and doing things according to the faith, comes form God’s word (Rom 10:17).

(3) That is why when we do not have faith for what we do in worship of God or service to him with our lives, as with Cain, we cannot please God (Heb 11:6).

e. Since doing what is according to God’s word comes from God’s word then doing it is the way of obedience (Heb 5:8-9).

3. Judah refused to walk in “the ways” or “the old paths” but unlike them, we must follow the way of truth.

4. One of the times David did not hear the trumpet he put the ark of Gods presence on a “new support,” a cart, having taken the ark off of the shoulders of the priests, where God had ordained that the ark was to be carried, moving one step at a time directed by God (2Sa 6:6-7; 1Ch 13:7-12; 15:12-13).

a. The decision was not to follow “the ways,” “the old paths” but to follow a new, innovative way which seemed at the time better from a man’s point of view.

b. The result of following a man’s decision was that Uzzah lost his life as will all who depart from the old paths.

c. Let’s not loose our spiritual lives following the precepts of men no matter what opposition to it may follow our getting back on tract with the Lord.

d. The success of Jesus’ sacrifice is dependant on our following God’s will.

5. What will be your decision and mine in relation to hearkening to the trumpet.

a. Will we do as and refuse?

b. Will we make a proper response and:

(1) seek his direction

(2) hear his direction and

(3) bey his direction?

6. Returning to the old paths involves staying with the:

a. original way (Eph 4:3-6; 2Pe 2:2).

(1) One way (Joh 14:6)

(2) One door (Joh 10:9)

(3) One body (Eph 4:4)

(4) One church (Mat 16:18)

(5) One faith (Eph 4:5)

(6) Jesus prayed for unity (Joh 17:21)

b. real gospel (Rom 1:16; Gal 1:6-9).

c. real church (Act 2:47, 20:28).

d. proper name. Acts 11:26; Pet. 4-.16

e. acceptable worship (Joh 4:24; Act 2:42).

f. saving faith (Jude 3; Heb 12:-2).

Conclusion:

If we step off the old paths, or go outside the ancient landmarks erected by God for our protection, then he will not be able to protects as he desires to do.

New ways or innovations are not the old paths and therefore, not God’s way for us. Let’s determine to stay with God’s way and if we have in any way gotten off the proper path, let’s return to the old, well word paths of righteousness.

Let’s stay with the old paths in matter of the faith, religion, of worship of God and service to him without lives.

Sources:

George William Butterfield, “A PLEA FOR THE OLD PATHS", “REMOVE NOT THE ANCIENT LANDMARKS"

G.E. Watkins, Seeking The Old Paths

in charity through Christ, Ra ym ond Wi sem an