Walk in the Ancient Path

14They dress the wound of my people

as though it were not serious.

‘Peace, peace,’ they say,

when there is no peace.

15Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?

No, they have no shame at all;

they do not even know how to blush.

So they will fall among the fallen;

they will be brought down when I punish them,”says the Lord.

16This is what the Lord says:

“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.’

17I appointed watchmen over you and said,

‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’

But you said, ‘We will not listen.’

18Therefore hear, you nations;

you who are witnesses,

observe what will happen to them.

19Hear, you earth:

I am bringing disaster on this people,

the fruit of their schemes,

because they have not listened to my words

and have rejected my law.

22This is what the Lord says:

“Look, an army is coming

from the land of the north;

a great nation is being stirred up

from the ends of the earth.

23They are armed with bow and spear;

they are cruel and show no mercy.

They sound like the roaring sea

as they ride on their horses;

they come like men in battle formation

to attack you, Daughter Zion.”

Thoughts: I remember when Hurricane Camille hit the Gulf Coast as a category five storm, there were hurricane parties.  People were thinking that nothing bad would happen to them and they wanted to see the experience.  So it is when people do not take their own sin seriously.  Jeremiah rebukes those who say they can sin and sin with no shame and still expect God's protection and blessing.  Jeremiah urges all those who know of God's Law to listen to it.  When we have heard and reject God, we are fooling ourselves.  The people of Jeremiah's day believed they were just religious enough to keep God happy.  They had, after all, the Temple of the Lord- the Temple of the Lord.  But a building does not insure behavior.  Saying there is peace does not mean there is peace.  We are always called to ask- "where are the ancient paths?"  What are the ways that people have found peace with God in the past- walk in these ways.  I had a dog who would make paths all over my back yard.  Grass would not grow on these paths, but neither would there be holes or mounds.  The paths were safe, and true.  When my dog got older and more blind, it was easier to walk on these old paths that she was used to walking.  So we are called to know God more and more and be familiar with walking in His way. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to walk in your path.  Help me to listen to your voice.  Let me not pretend things are great when they are not.  Give me grace to address the problems I face.