Opening question: What do you do if you are not sure of the way when you are in a strange place ?
Discussion hint:
The stubborn bloke approach – don’t ask just follow your nose
Looking for signs – (just discovered GEO GUESSING game)
Admitting you are lost and ask the way
Context
Jeremiah was a prophet in the southern kingdom (Judah) during the last forty years of its existence (627-586 b.c.). He lived through the period of the disintegration of the kingdom, witnessed the
destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babyolnians, and spent the remaining years of his life in Egypt. Jeremiah was called to the prophetic ministry in 627 b.c. when he was approximately twenty years of age. Although the account of his call is brief, Jeremiah was divinely informed that he had been created, sanctified, and ordained to be a prophet. His ministry was not to be limited to his own people, but he was commissioned to be a prophet to the nations.In his
call to service Jeremiah was also prepared for the fact that he would need to withstand much opposition. He was warned that the kings of Judah, the princes, the priests, and the common people would be against him as the Lord’s messenger. Warning to turn back – Weeping prophet.
The crossroads is symbolic of the decision point for Judah.
1. ThecommandtoStop and stand!.”
Discussion hints:
Stop before you lose your way even further
Where have we gone wrong – community question?
2. Now what? Discussion hints:
Look. A wider than the present perspective – “A long view is good for the soul.” (Eugene Peterson)
Look down each road nothing in sight.
What might Judah have seen? – they were coming from a fallen Judah – violence -child sacrifice – ahead lay the looming threat of Babylon- what to do with that threat?
Ask – How easy is it for us to ask?
Discussion hints
Depends on who and what we are asking for. It is hard to ask for help – pride – self- sufficiency – not being beholden upon someone. What if they say “no?”
What were the “Ancient paths?”
Ancient paths – history of the people – Salvation history – Deut 32:7 Remember the days of old
Ask yourselves, “Where are the ancient paths? Where
you have come from? – Where you want to go? – What is God’s call on my life?”
See the mistakes of the journey so far and of those who have gone before – We are destined to repeat them if we do not learn from the past. Remember the devotion of your youth – first love.
Revelation 2:3-5
You have persevered and have endured hardships for
my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Walk
Discussion hints:
What do we do with our knowledge?
Walking is an action – behaviour – putting faith into action. Deut 26:17
“You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him.”
Walking in obedience Psalm 15: 1-2 – Walk is blameless
Deut 6 – binding commands and walk through the day The perfect mother
Overcoming worry at the crossroads
Discussion hints:
What sort of things do we worry about?
Worrying about outcomes – indecision – something to be
afraid of- the cost of going the right way
What if you don’t walk? You will never know – miss out on the adventure
No rest.
Judah was not worried even though they should have been.
Summary
Stop, look, ask, walk and believe
Finding rest of your souls.
Remembering to pause on the way – Sabbath- renewal – pause in Rom 12 – rest in release from anxiety.