God’s Way is the Good Way
Jeremiah 6:16-21
By Bobby G. Bodenhamer, D.Min.
For October 19, 2008
Introduction - A life of "change"
Isn’t it remarkable how rapidly things change? In looking at this passage in Jeremiah my mind was drawn back over my life time. I was borne (I think I was born. Dad always told me that he found me in an old hollowed out log. Sex education in my day was tremendous.) In 1944. World War II was raging hot and heavy. My first few years of school were in a two room school house with each room heated by a potbellied stove. The Korean War was being fought. I vaguely remember the concern in my teacher’s voice as she spoke of the war. Life on our small farm life was simple, however.
I entered Appalachian High School, Boone, NC in 1958. Many of you are already hearing the music of the 50’s. It was good. You could understand it. No wonder it is coming back. I remember the ’55 Chevrolet, the first V8 Chevrolet built. What about the 5 x 7? That was a real car. The only problem was I didn’t have enough money to buy one. I traveled by “air.” With an outstretch thumb I would exclaim, "’Air’ you going my way?" after graduation from high school it was time for The Air Force. Marriage came in ’65 and college in ’68 after accepting the call to preach. Today, (October 17, 2008) marks our 43 great years together.
What about the 60’s? Vietnam was in turmoil. Our boys were dying and no one understood why. Our streets were filled with rioters over racism and the war. President Kennedy was killed. Martin Luther King and Senator Kennedy followed. Society was being ripped to shreds. In 1970 I entered Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, as a religion and philosophy major and psychology minor.
What an experience to study the liberal arts with the 60’s generation! I remember in psychology that we not only studied eastern mysticism, we actually practiced it. We had séances and the like with the youth in the church we were attending. I was absolutely ignorant of the fact that I was practicing so far outside the realm of our faith. What a decade was the 60’s.
Almost everyone here remembers the 70’s and the deep recession. My wife was laid off from work in 1975 and she was the major bread winner as I was a seminary student with a small pastorate. One great thing about the 70’s was the return of our nation to a more conservative mindset of the 80’s. The 90’s was the "so-called" decade of prosperity and "blindness" to the real world of terrorism.
Now we are well into the first decade of the 21st century. We enter it with a recession, 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq and the war against terror. Regrettably we are seeing American’s focus on Christianity as more and more negative as I read in the Barna Research book Unwinding. Now we are experiencing an unwinding of the economy that some say we haven’t seen as bad since the Great Depression.
You will notice that the economic problems of today have moved the economy as #1 for both Senator McCain and Senator Obama. Change! Change! and more Change.
Change! Change! Every decade, year every year brings with it change. Politically, economically, environmentally, socially and religiously everything changes. I use to sing a song in elementary school called "The old gray mare she ain’t what she use to be." well, she ain’t. Everything changes. And it isn’t all bad. However, in the midst of a rapid and every changing society an individual who is wise will have his/her feet planted on some firm principles to help guide them through the complexities of an ever changing society.
Planting my feet solid on the "Rock"
In the midst of all the change in my adult life, there was "one decision" that laid the foundation for me to live my life in an ever changing world firmly planted on the Rock that never changes. What was that decision? It was the decision to surrender my "adult" life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I was a single man living in Poston Apartments in Gastonia, NC, where I had a room in the apartment of the manager of the local Western Auto Store. I was working for Bill Godwin of Godwin’s Refrigeration. My car was a bright red 1960 Chevrolet convertible. "I was cool." On the surface I appeared being a young man who was living the "good life". But on the inside I was miserable. During that period of my life I hurt some people. Thank God for Calvary but that doesn’t "fix" the hurt I caused in those people. One can only ask for forgiveness.
But, way back in my history was a crucial moment in time when as a nine year old boy I had an experience with the Lord Jesus Christ. I gave my life to Him but during this span of my life, you would have never known it. I was a shame to the Cross of Christ. On a specific day in 1964 I was driving up Franklin Blvd. in Gastonia. I had just past McDonalds when it was as if the Lord came into that service van and sat down in the passenger seat beside me. To me, He said, as plain and firmly yet as lovingly as anyone could say, "Bob, I cannot protect you anymore. If you keep going the way you are going, you are going to fall off the cliff and it will be over for you."
The Road Juncture
That day, I knew that I was at the juncture of two roads. One road led to life with Christ, the other road continued down the same road that I had been traveling for over 3 years - death. That Sunday, I went to Grace Baptist Church in the city. I remotely knew Herb and Mott who attended that church. Soon after that first visit, during a revival meeting, I recommitted my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. It was quite an experience - almost as powerful as that first experience of Salvation.
Out of that one decision I met my wife now of 43 years (We celebrated our 43rd anniversary today, October 17, 2008). I accepted God’s call as a minister. I entered and completed college after almost 4 years. I went off to seminary where I spent 6 more years in school obtaining both a graduate and post graduate degree. At the same time I served as pastor of two churches. After seminary I have served 3 other churches including this one which has been my longest pastorate of 16 years.
And, it was as a pastor that I got introduced to Neuro-Linguistic Programming that has led to 11 published books that I contributed to plus numerous articles. It has opened up an international ministry for me (See www.renewingyourmind.com).
In an ever changing society, we need something or Someone to firmly plant our feet on so that we will not be persuaded by every wind that blows.
Things were changing rapidly in Jeremiah’s day. And in the midst of this ever changing society, Jeremiah issued an oracle which proclaimed, in effect, that God has called his people to return to the ancient paths of the Mosaic covenant faith, but they have refused to respond to the call:
1. 16-17) They paid no heed to his warnings.
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.’
2. (19) They rejected God’s law.
19Hear, O 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.
3. (19-20) They tried to substitute sacrifice and ceremony for surrender and service.
20What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.”
God was not going to allow this to continue. He would bring evil upon them; they would stumble and fall: "...for evil looks down from the north, and a great destruction." (6:1b). The prophet proclaims:
1. (6) The city must be punished due to the oppression in her.
6This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Cut down the trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression.
2. (10) Their ears are closed and they hear not; the word of the Lord is an object of reproach and scorn.
10To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
3. (13) Even prophets and priests are corrupt;
13“From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit…”
a. (13) greedy and unjust;
13“From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.
b. (14) False spokesman saying peace, peace when there is no peace.
14They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say,when there is no peace.
4. (15) People were not ashamed, i.e. “did not know how to blush.” Being a great man of God, Jeremiah proclaimed the truth, harsh as it was, while at the same time he urged the people to return to the good way where alone there was hope.
15Are they ashamed of their loathsome 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.
As we look at verse 16ff let’s determine that in a world of change we will build our lives on the good way:
I. A challenge to serious thought: "stand by the ways and see...”
A. "Stand" is imperative plural of aimdu meaning to stand.
1. "by" is preposition of al meaning upon.
2. "ways" is from dereq meaning way, road, distance, journey, manner (BDB). Green says, "upon the ways, i.e. at the place where they meet or part."
3. "See" is infinitive imperative ra,ah meaning "to see."
B. Stand at the place where the roads of your life part and look at the guideposts.
1. See where it is that you are headed, lest you wind up in the wilderness or over a precipice.
2. Think upon your way; ponder your paths
C. This is a challenge which needs to be issued to many today.
1. Those that follow the crowd.
2. Those that go in for novelty for novelty’s sake.
3. Those that choose pleasure or money as the highest good in life.
4. Those who worship at the shrine of science or scholarship or institutional religion.
D. There is a question I wish to ask you this morning, "If you keep going the way you are going, where will you end up?"
II. There is a command to careful inquiry into the "ancient paths" with a view of ascertaining the good way.
A. "...and ask for the ancient paths."
1. "Paths" from netiy,bah meaning path, of moral action and character, paths of wisdom (pr. 3:17), justice (pr. 8:20), light (job 24:13; Jer. 6:16). [BDB, p. 677]
2. "Where the good way is..." from derek hatob.
B. This is no proof text for conformity to tradition.
1. Jeremiah was a rebel prophet who dared to cut across many established customs and conventions of his day:
a. He criticized the establish prophets and priests (13-14).
b. He criticized the empty formalism of their sacrificial system of worship (20).
2. When custom and tradition are empty, they need to be reformed and changed.
C. At the same time, he was soundly grounded in the covenant faith of Moses and the fathers.
1. The ancient paths were paths of faith, spiritual worship, ethical conduct and obedience.
2. Among these would be found the good way.
a. God’s way is good because it was ordained of God from eternity and set in the structure of reality.
b. Good because it has been tested and found to be true.
D. It is not necessarily the easiest way or the shortest way.
1. But it is God’s way and therefore good.
2. It is good:
a. In its commencement ... Start right ... New birth
b. In its continuation ... Live right ... Don’t goof up.
c. And in its consummation... Die right; Best life insurance policy.
III. There is a call to action: "...and walk in it."
A. It is not enough to think and inquire.
B. There must be a positive response.
1. "Faith without works is dead," so says James after the church lost its excitement and grew complacent.
2. Exodus 14:15 is most instructive, "Then the lord said to Moses, ’why are you crying out to me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward."’
C. The only way to salvation in Jeremiah’s day or ours is a turning back to the ancient paths of God.
Mar 1:15 (KJV) “And saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
IV. Next come the accompanying promise: "and you shall rest for your souls."
A. "Soul" is from nephesh meaning the total life of the person.
1. We have a picture of freedom from anxiety.
2. We have a picture of freedom from restlessness.
B. The illusion is to the settling down or relaxation of the whole of life.
1. The concept of "rest" in the scriptures is rich and suggestive.
2. It is more personal in the NT than the OT.
3. Mat 11:28-30 (KJV) “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
4. Heb 4:9 (KJV) “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
C. Like the ancient Israelites, people today seek rest in various directions.
1. There is only one path that leads to it: the commitment to "the good way."
2. The way of has been manifested supremely to us in the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3. He who follows Christ’s way follows the good way.
V. Finally, there is the people’s choice: "we will not walk in it."
A. According to Jeremiah, there are two ways men can take:
1. One leads to rest.
2. The other leads to ruin.
B. Jesus, Matthew 7:13-14 KJV “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
C. Each person must choose the path which he or she will follow.
1. Israel chose the path of ruin and in Jeremiah’s life time he saw the Babylonians conquer what the people thought was unconquerable.
2. God help us to see the God’s way is the only good way.
Invitation:
1. Some joke and make fun of the old ways; but the way of the old rugged cross is God’s way and hence the good way.
2. You need to be in that way this morning.
3. The way of the cross leads home.
4. Have you once been in the way but have since gotten out of the way? Come home.
5. Ill. "What are the possibilities?"
Ezekiel 18:32 (KJV) For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”
He was born into wealth and was raised in a mansion. Today he wears prison gray after being convicted of planting a car bomb that took the lives of two members of his family. His almost unbelievable reversal of circumstances came after he tried to get control of a $10-million family estate. The impact of his own choices became clear the day he sat stone faced, in a state of shock, as the verdict of guilty was read before a hushed courtroom. What irony! This man could have been rich. He could have had so much if he had been willing to wait--and play it straight. But now it seemed as though his life was over.
Yet, don’t stop there. Think about the possibility that still remains. As long as he has breath, he can, like the thief on the cross, acknowledge his sins and ask Christ for help. And just as that criminal, who was considered unfit to live in human society, was made fit for paradise, this man can become a "new creation," a citizen of heaven.
Such a turnaround is always possible for the sinner. This is what God was saying to Israel through the prophet Ezekiel. Because he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, he pleads with them to repent. Perhaps you feel that such a turnaround is not fair, or you may think you’re too bad to begin anew. If you trust Jesus as your savior, you’ll make that possibility a reality.
Note:
Special thanks to Dr. J. Leo Greene, Former Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for this sermon outline. I created this sermon from the notes I took in his course on Jeremiah.
