Faithful Friday Faves: Jeremiah

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Back in 1994, I was teaching the Jr/Sr High students Sunday School class in the little denominational church we were attending. The curriculum we were using covered the entire Bible in 6 years. We were heading into a new quarter of study, and the upcoming book was Jeremiah.

The thought of teaching Jeremiah to a bunch of teenagers really intimidated me.

So, in preparation, one of the things I did was procure a copy of The International Inductive Study Bible, so I could dig in a little deeper.

It was a doorway into a new level of appreciation for the Word. Instead of being dull and boring, Jeremiah came alive.

At least, it did for me. I don't know if the kids got anything out of it or not.

In skimming through for today's selection, I found myself getting goosebumpy over the similarities between Jeremiah's culture and the culture in which we live. As I commented on Facebook, it's almost like reading today's newspaper.

And we all know the outcome of the social norms of Jeremiah's day.

So the verse that jumped out at me early in the book is a true injunction to all of us:
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." - Jer. 6:16a

Note that ancient is not necessarily equated w/good here...and it's true, all societies have mistakes in their past that we would do well not to repeat. But the problem is that our society has not only discarded the mistakes, but the solid things as well, lumping them all together.

Just as they did in Jeremiah's day.

"But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'" - Jer 6:16 b

Oh, that we would learn wisdom, and ask for the good way, which is ancient, and find rest...

Jeremiah always stirs up an emotion in me that is nearly grief as the narrative moves through the last kings of Judah to the disastrous destruction of the city and all the things the Jews held precious...because they had convinced themselves such a thing Could Never Happen.

Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls...