SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 6
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
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.’ [Jeremiah 6:16]
Poor Jeremiah, he sees what is coming (judgment through brutal enemy invasion) and is warning the people to turn back to God, but they will not.
Through his words he shows them the two roads – the crossroads – where the decision must be made.
The ancient path, the good way, is the way of submission to God and His Law.
To choose that path is to choose rest and peace and blessing.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. [Matthew 11:29-30]
Jesus is calling people to the same crossroads, though the one difference is that He is now the Way, not the Law of Moses.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [John 1:17]
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [John 14:6]
Jesus, not Moses, is the ancient way, the good path, that leads to rest for the soul, to grace and truth and life.
When Jesus refers to His yoke, He is referring to His teaching, His commands, His Law – the yoke was a symbol of submitting to someone’s authority.
“He who takes the yoke of Torah on himself shall have lifted from him the yoke of kingdom and the yoke of the world’s way. But he who takes the yoke of Torah off himself shall find laid on himself the yoke of kingship and the yoke of the world’s way.” (Rabbi Nechonia ben HaQanah)
This Rabbi was right for the old testament time, what he says agrees with what Jeremiah says – reject God’s yoke and be subjected to a worldly yoke!
But today the yoke has changed, and we are called to submit to Jesus’ yoke.
His message, His commands, His grace, His truth…
He brings us to a crossroads and asks us to choose a path.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ ???
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to see the implications of my choice, of whether I choose Your will, Your way, Your grace… or not. You are not just asking for faith, You are asking for faith that results in obedience!