What are the ancient paths in Jeremiah 6:16?

Response

Less than twenty years before Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, first invaded Judah and Jerusalem, God informed the people through Jeremiah that judgment was imminent and inevitable—by that time, it was unavoidable. God had consistently cautioned the people by revealing His truth through various prophets. He had instructed the people of Israel and Judah to seek the ancient paths that God had provided, saying, “‘Thus says the LORD: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’,” (Jeremiah 6:16). Regrettably, the people disregarded those admonitions and instead turned away from God’s instructions—they rejected those ancient paths and chose a path that led to judgment from God at the hands of the Babylonians.

Centuries earlier, God had established a covenant with Israel through Moses. The Mosaic Covenant was an agreement between God and the people that if they obeyed the laws given by God, they would dwell in the land of Canaan and receive blessings. However, instead of obeying God, they turned to worship other gods and engaged in various forms of idolatry. The covenant was violated, and in Jeremiah’s time, it was time for the repercussions. The people had abandoned the ancient paths (the paths outlined in the law of Moses), turning away from God’s teachings.

As the nation drifted further from God and His ancient paths, God sent messengers to urge the people to return to Him. Prophet after prophet was dispatched, yet the people persisted in turning away. Consequently, God administered judgment. The kingdom of Israel was divided (in 931 BC) following Solomon’s reign. The northern kingdom of Israel was so corrupt that they faced judgment.

First, being defeated at the hands of the Assyrians around 722 BC. However, those who remained did not follow the ancient paths and the words of God through the prophets. Therefore, God sent Jeremiah to declare the inevitability of impending judgment for the southern kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah witnessed the arrival of that judgment as Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded in 605 and 597 BC and ultimately demolished the temple and the city of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Survivors were exiled to Babylonian territories.

God forewarned through Jeremiah that the impending judgment was definite and unavoidable. As God conveyed that troubling news, He listed accusations against the people, including that He had urged them to stand by and inquire about the ancient paths. That was the righteous way, and that was the path of solace for their souls. However, they declined to search for or walk in those ancient paths «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. », (Jeremiah 6:16). They disregarded God’s Word and chose not to follow it.

Due to Judah’s obstinate refusal to return to the ancient paths, God stated He would bring about the foretold disaster—not as a random outburst of anger but as the consequence of the people’s schemes «Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. », (Jeremiah 6:19). The judgment would be just and deserved. Nevertheless, even while announcing that judgment, God also predicted that He would one day restore the nation, rescuing them and redeeming them through a new covenant. He would be their savior despite their past unfaithfulness «Behold, the daysCome, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: », (Jeremiah 31:31ff). Even in judgment, God shows His grace—the ancient paths have much to say about that grace.

Just as the people of Israel faced a choice of whether or not to follow God’s ancient paths, we stand at a crossroads. In those ancient paths, God calls us to acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3), to view Him as our God and treat Him accordingly (Ecclesiastes 12). Those ancient paths explain our lostness and our need for a savior «But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. », (Isaiah 64:6), and they explain how God provided that Savior (Isaiah 53). Those ancient paths show us that the road to redemption is a simple one—belief in Him (Genesis 15:6;Habakkuk 2:4)—and that He is faithful to all who believe «I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. », (Psalm 37:25). In the final chapters (what we call the New Testament) of His revealed Word, we are given much more detail and specific guidance about how God has worked and is working. Those chapters stand as evidence that the ancient paths are not archaic or inaccessible or irrelevant. Rather, they are indeed a light to our path «Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path. », (Psalm 119:105).