Standing at the Crossroads (Jeremiah 6:15-17)

“This is what the LORD says: Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask which paths are the old, reliable paths. Ask which way leads to blessings. Live that way, and find a resting place for yourselves. But you said that you wouldn’t live that way.” Jeremiah 6:16

A striking comparison exists between God’s people of Jeremiah’s day and the people of world and the people of God today … Let's see ...

Judah’s condition is much like that of the world today:
1. They had No Shame - 15
2. They took No Stand - 16
3. They heard No Sound - 17

No Shame!
The world has no shame today! Anything goes … it’s ok to be whatever (gay, straight, both,, etc) … just as the people of Jeremiah’s day they have been lulled into complacency and have become insensitive to wrong … everyone says it’s your “God-given” right to be whoever you want to be!
The disrespect of authority has become commonplace i.e. the Presidential Office is blatantly disrespected … the man of God is often mistreated and abused … teachers who spend the better part of their day with our children are often threatened not only by the parents but by their own students. Even the officer of the law at times is hesitant to drive through some neighborhoods in the inner cities in America.

The movie and entertainment industry is seething with “in your face” lewd and lascivious behavior that would cause the most provocative burlesque dancer of yesteryear to blush in shame. Every other song or video is laced with a new brand of “take me as I am or leave me alone, I don’t care what you think” attitude that dares you to respond negatively.

The alternative lifestyle advocates gain more power and notoriety each and every year. Yes, the list of shameful acts portrayed on the large and small screen at any hour of the day is certainly shameful.

In Jeremiah’s day, God’s people were in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation that instead of changing and challenging they acquiesced and complied with the abominable acts of idol worship and immorality. Thus v. 15 again “they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush …”

It’s a sad state when the lifestyle you lead leads you to become so callous with sin … so heartless with iniquity … so unfeeling towards un-holiness …

And so the church, God’s church, the church of Christ must not partake in the shameless acts of the previous mentioned kind … it has to guard itself from the shame and degradation of the forces that would claim her purity … but there are many that like the people of Jeremiah’s day have little or no shame to their game!

We live in an age in church history where to some, the thought of shame never enters their minds … there are those perhaps here … in our fellowship that have a “catch me in you dare” attitude with their sinful state …

Many attend whenever they want … give whatever they want … shack-up with whomever they want … go wherever they want … take however much they want … all the while daring you or anybody to confront them with God’s word or your word! They’re hardened hearts and displayed on their chest like a badge of honor!
So we must guard our hearts to keep afresh the word of God and be open to correction and instruction from that same word of God!

No Stand!
The people in Jeremiah’s day … God’s people … Took No Stand.

They were encouraged to take a thoughtful introspection of their lives … they, like wayward travelers approaching a crossroads were admonished to Stand and See/Look and Ask for the “Old paths” … the “Good Way”. As a traveler must make a decision as to the next direction he was to take, so God’s people were instructed to peer into their past glory and inquire of the ways of their forefathers …

They were to reflect on the ways of the patriarchs … how they walked with God and God was their joy and protector … they were to reflect on the Mosaic tradition where God lead them through the Red Seas and by the dark places, the desert places and the places filled with death … they were to remember the sign of the stones of Joshua chapter 4

“That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying what mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be a memorial unto the children of Israel forever” (Josh. 4:6-7)

It was a mandate of God to reflect on the days of old: Deut 32:7; Ex 13:14; Isa 46:9

As they stood at the crossroads they were to reach back and remember the stories of the mighty hand of God: Egyptian Bondage/Red Sea, Law/Ten Commandments, Pillar of cloud/fire in the wilderness, Walls of Jericho falling, the defeat of many nations, the great rein of King David, the Wisdom of Solomon, the chronicles of the many worthy kings … they had a great and glorious history to reflect on … BUT … they refused walk therein … they said “We will not walk therein … we will not follow in their footsteps … we will not live that way … we will not take a stand!” We will do it our way!

Even though their way lead to death and destruction and God’s way, the “old paths” led to “rest for their souls!”

Oh the similarities are frightening today … there are many at a crossroads right now … many standing there gazing and wondering which way to go! Many have been living out loud before all to see and God wants you to stop for a moment … God’s word is still the same today! “Stand, Look, and Ask” … reflect on the many blessings of the Lord on our forefathers.

Ask about some of the “Old paths/ways” … [Now I know there are some “Old ways” that need to be left back there] … but there are some “Old ways” that can help somebody today!
- Courting/dating
- Modest dress
- Marriage/raising children
- Faithfulness to the local body/church
- Respect for the church of God and the man of God

BUT, many today are just like the people in Jeremiah’s day “We will not hearken … we won’t walk that way! And so you find yourself without the rest and reassurance of God’s comfort – Mat. 11:28


No Sound!
In Jeremiah’s day … all of this made it difficult for them to Hear No Sound …

The watchmen sound went virtually unheard … the watchmen were those prophets, those servants of God sent with His message of warning:
Jer 25:4-5

4 And though the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.
NIV

The prophets were to speak like a “trumpet” … a loud and piercing sound … they were to sound out God’s message without holding back … Isa 58:1; Isa 40:9; Jer 1:7-10

The trumpet/voice was to be sounded with no fear or shame …

Remember Jesus’ response - Matt 3:7-10 (What a Trumpet!!)

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
NIV

Stephen’s stinging rebuke during his sermon in Acts 7 cost him his life - Acts 7:51-53

The man of God today – the Preacher has been handed down through the centuries a Trumpet as well … I am to sound the trumpet of the gospel without addition nor subtraction … I am to stand flat-foot and bold on the word of God “In season and out of season” … Paul told Titus:
Titus 2:15

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
KJV

He told Timothy “As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightiest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.” (1 Tim. 1:3)

BUT … even then, in Jeremiah’s day, as well as our day … They said “We will not hearken!”

2 Tim. 4:4 “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth …”

It has always been a dangerous thing not to hearken/listen to the word of God …

Because Judah refused to listen to the trumpet of God, God declared that He would “… bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.” V.19

I think this is Clear … Lucid … and Unambiguous …

You've been Clued!