Wisdom Wednesday: Wisdom at the Crossroads
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
(Jeremiah 6:16 NASB 1995)
In this passage, Jeremiah warns those in the city of Jerusalem that there is an impending war that threatens to destroy their capital city. In the first verses of the chapter, Jeremiah exclaims the words of warning:
- Blow the trumpet of warning (v.1)
- Enemy armies will pitch their tents, prepare to attack, and cut trees to make siege ramps to mount the city walls (vv. 3-6)
- The adversary is sustained by wickedness, violence, and destruction (v. 7)
In the following verses (vv. 8-15) Jeremiah continues with the terrible things that will happen if the people’s ears are closed and will not listen to the warning (v. 10). The Lord’s wrath will be poured out–by the invading army–because of the sin and abominations of the leaders.
Then, in today’s verse 16, the Lord provides the word picture of the people of Jerusalem (and all of Judea) at a crossroads. They have lost their way on a long dusty road, and now they must choose. If they choose the good way–the ancient path of righteous worship of Jehovah — they will find rest for their souls.
But the people said by their actions, “We will not listen” (v.6:16b)
In chapter 18, Jeremih repeats this concept of the wayward, stumbling people who walked off the ancient paths, away from the main road:
‘For My people have forgotten Me, They burn incense to worthless gods And they have stumbled from their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in bypaths, Not on a highway, (Jer. 18:15)
Jeremiah was sent as a watchman, as if walking the fortified walls of Jerusalem, looking to warn of the Assyrian invaders. This passage was a sounding of the trumpet to warn the people, but they said to the watchman, again, “We will not listen” (v. 6:17b)
Sadly, the rest of this chapter foretells the results of not listening. The invaders will sweep in mercilessly and reign terror in Jerusalem (vv. 6:12) as Jehovah rejected them.
Jerusalem was attacked by Sennacherib, king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (circa 701 BC) but was an unsuccessful siege (as recorded by Isaiah 37; 2 Chronicles 32). Ultimately, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, successfully conquered Jerusalem circa 588 BC (2 Kings 24; Ezekiel 24:2).
The people of Jerusalem would have been wise to listen to the warnings, to hear the watchman’s warning trumpet, and to return to the ancient paths of righteousness. Today, we have similar warnings in Scripture to not stumble off the path of righteousness. Let us be wise and trust the Lord as David says, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3)