Ask for the Old Paths

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.”

We are thankful for the many new inventions and discoveries that help humanity live an easier, healthier and longer life. However, if we are not careful, in our quest to keep up with the new more educated way of life, we will cast aside the old paths. We need to use both the new and the old. We will find rest to our souls by following the old paths.

Don’t we like to read books, and see movies of the “good old days?” Those were days when people respected fellow citizens and trusted in a higher power. They took time to know and help each other. They took time to reflect on what they were doing and where the choices they were making would lead them. Don’t we all wish that life could be a little more like it was in the “olden days?”

Think a moment of our nation. What country has become as great as the U.S.? Our nation has helped almost every nation of the world. Why? Why did it have more than enough for it citizens while other nations were not supplying enough for theirs? Why did our nation survive those first years of hardships, and wars? How did we progress from hand tools into the machine age without mass unemployment and poverty?

Where did our founding father get wisdom to form a government that has been so successful? They observed the old paths of their ancestors and other nations: noting the results of those who practiced righteousness and those who practiced evil. They saw by example that “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34) They read their Bible and believed that such passages as Proverbs 24:3 & 4 were true. “Through wisdom is a house (nation) built, and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” They sought God earnestly for wisdom, understanding and knowledge. (Some of their assemblies turned into prayer meetings.)

 Even Ben Franklin who was considered the least religious of our founding fathers made this statement. “I call for daily prayer, for …We need to keep God’s concurring aid. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We‘ve been assured in the sacred writings that ‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’ History will afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion; from its usefulness to the public and the advantage of religious character among private persons... and the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern…”

Dr. Benjamin Rush, a very intelligent founding father graduated from Princeton University when he was only 14 years old. He is referred to as the father of the Public Schools. He said, “The Bible should be read in our schools in preference to all other books. In contemplating the political stations of the United States, I say if we remove the Bible from the schools we will waste so much time and money punishing crimes and will be doing so little to prevent them. This divine book of all other favors the equality of mankind, the respect of just laws and those sober and frugal virtues that constitutes the soul of our government. There is the most knowledge in those countries that have the most Christianity. And those parents or school masters who neglect religious instructions of their children and pupils reject the most effective means of promoting knowledge in our country.”

 For 200 years, children all over America learned the order of the alphabet by memorizing Bible verses. Also teachers in the public schools used the Bible as a textbook. Therefore, those generations had strong character, wisdom, understanding and knowledge.

I am happy following the old paths that the generations before me followed. It is a restful life, and who doesn’t want rest in this “rat race” age?

Trust in the Lord with all thy heart; and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Proverbs 3:5-8