What were these "ancient paths"? (Jeremiah 6:16)
Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) says, "This 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.’"
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Asked December 19 2021
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Jack Gutknecht
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Grant Abbott
These ancient paths are the “way of righteousness” that God has revealed to all human beings since Adam and Eve. It is a lifestyle that pleases God and demonstrated faith in him. Abraham put his faith in God and walked in the way of righteousness. Moses put his faith in the revelation of God’s law and walked in the way of righteousness. When Jesus came to save us through his suffering, death and resurrection, people who put their faith in him became “Followers of the Way”. See the following references: Psalm 5:8; Proverbs 8:20, 11:5, 12:28; Matt 21:32 Even today, all human beings stand at the crossroads every day: will we put our faith in the ways of this world and walk on those paths or in the ways of God as revealed through the example of Jesus and his invitation for us to follow him down the path he had made. Whenever we choose to walk on these ancient paths, our lives are pleasing to God and we are blessed because of it.
Jack Gutknecht
Jeremiah 6:16: “Thus saith the LORD, ‘Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk therein.’” (King James Version (KJV)) First, see the big picture: Thus saith the Lord Jer. 6:16: To the Wanderer To the Weary 1 Stand in the ways Jer. 6:16 1 Come unto Me Matt. 11:28 2 See and consider Jer. 6:16 2 Accept the rest I offer Matt. 11:28 3 Ask for the old paths Jer. 6:16 3 Take my yoke upon you Matt. 11:29 4 Walk in them Jer. 6:16 4 Learn of Me Matt. 11:29 To BOTH—the Promise—‘Ye shall find rest for your souls.’ I think “the ancient paths” refer to the Law and the Testimony which Isaiah also refers to in Isaiah 8:20, “To the Law and the Testimony! If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (NKJV) In other words, it means God’s Ten Commandments (the Law) and His prophetic Testimony. “Then you must recall the LORD's instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened.” (NET Bible)
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