WM Vol. 1 No. 1 October 1989 Seek The Old Paths Garland M. Robinson The spiritual condition of the people of swer thee. But thou shalt say unto them, Judah in Jeremiah's time was deplor This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice able. Their sad condition warranted stiff of the Lord their God, nor receiveth cor rebukes from Jehovah. They engaged in rection: truth is perished, and is cut off activities of which God had not com from their mouth" (Jeremiah 7:23-28). manded them. He continually sent proph False prophets and priests had fooled ets among them to call them back to his the people into thinking everything was ways. "But this thing commanded I them, fine. It was more pleasant to listen to their saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your "good news" than Jeremiah's "bad news." God, and ye shall be my people: and walk Jeremiah 6:14 says, "They have healed ye in all the ways that I have commanded also the hurt of the daughter of my people you, that it may be well unto you. But slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, is no peace." God's cry for the people to but walked in the counsels and in the return to him was crucial and decisive. imagination of their evil heart, and went Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the backward, and notforward. Since the day ways, and see, and ask for the old that your fathers came forth out of the paths, where is the good way, and land of Egypt unto this day I have even walk therein, and ye shallfind restfor sent unto you all my servants the prophets, your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16). Sadly, the daily rising up early and sending them: Yet response of the people was, ((we will not they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined walk therein...We will not hearken" (6:16, their ear, buthardenedtheir neck: they did 17). What a sad day for Judah. What a worse than their fathers. Therefore thou dismal day for anyone who will not heed shalt speak all these words unto them; but the call of God to obey his word! When they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt king Saul brought back king Agag alive also call unto them; but they will not an instead of killing him, Samuel said, "Hath Page 2 Seek The Old Paths - October the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings done what we can to accomplish it. and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than THE RELEVANCY OF THE PLEA sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (I Samuel 15:22). Saul's sin was "The time is now and the place of one of rebellion (v.23). So is everyone action is here for the emphasis upon the who does not heed God's word and obey restoration plea. We need to plead for a what it says! return to the ancient order until practice conforms with the plea. This applies to the THE RESTORATION PLEA religious world in general but to the Lord's church in many places specifically (Romafis Does God no longer desire for people 2:1-3, 21-22; 14:22). The shuffling feet of to follow his commands? He has always a new generation marches upon the scene desired it! Jesus taught it! "If ye keep my as an older generation with muffled voices commandments, ye shall abide in my love; pass on to distant points. Every generation even as I have kept my Father's command must be taught the fundamentals (Judges ments, and abide in his love" (John 2:7-10). Even among those who have 15:10). Love for God, is love for his way. heard the first principles of the oracles of "If ye love me, keep my commandments" God (what some may erroneously think of (John 14:15). as "worn out truths"), there is a need to The command of Jeremiah 6:16 to remind them again of these eternal verities "seek the old paths" is as relevant today (H Peter 1:12-15; 3:1-2). The time is as it was then. Peter wrote, "If any man urgent that we plead for a return to the speak, let him speak as the oracles of Bible to prevent some from departing from God..." (I Peter 4:11). To speak as the the faith (Hebrews 2:1-4). We must con oracles of God is the restoration plea, to tend for the faith lest many leave the old walk in "the old paths" is the restoration paths and turn to the doctrines and com in practice. From the late 1700's to the mandments of men (Jude 3; Matthew present, there have been men, both small 15:8-9). The restoration plea is a plea for and great, pleading for a return to the unity. It is a call for all men to stand upon ancient order of things. Their plea has the Bible and the Bible alone (I Corinth been and is: "Back to the Bible," "Let us ians 1:10; John 17:20-21)." (Ben F. Vick, speak where the Bible speaks and be silent Jr., Speak As The Oracles, May 1989, pp.8-9) where the Bible is silent" and, "Let us call God has always desired that men seek Bible things by Bible names and do Bible him. On Mar's Hill Paul preached men things in Bible ways." "should seek the Lord" and "feel after Seeking the "old paths" is not a cry to him and find him, though he be not far return to Bethany or Cane Ridge, Nashville from every one of us" (Acts 17:22-28). or Cincinnati, but back to Jerusalem of the This same attitude should posses men first century. We need the same gospel today to return to "the old paths," the that was preached then preached today - way of Jehovah. All who do not do so are ringing from every housetop in every land. surely "without excuse" at the judgment. May we never cease to contend to that 1801 Cruise St., Corinth, MS 38834 end. May we never rest until we have Seek The Old Path* - October Page 3 Demands Of The Old Paths Sidney White "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in methodology and far too little on the the ways, and see, and ask for the old old paths. If we want to develop a paths, where is the good way, and walk great soul winning program, do we therein, and ye shall find rest for your examine the methods of some fast souls. But they said, We will not walk growing denominational organization or therein" (Jeremiah 6:16). This oft do we examine the activities of the quoted passage, a plea for the Israelites early Christians as recorded in the to return to God's way, is as meaning Bible? Copying denominationalism will ful today as when given to Jeremiah by ultimately lead to more denomination God. The significance ofthe passage is alism. We had better re-evaluate our just as binding today as ever. Whole sources of instruction. "Study to shew sale^ changes are taking place among thyself approved unto God, a workman God's people — changes that are cer that needeth not to be ashamed, right tainly not according to God's direction. ly dividing the word of truth" (II Timo For us to properly apply the principle thy 2:15). of this passage in the church today, we Third, the old paths demand to must understand some demands of be believed. "I know that is what it God's way. says, but..." is a phrase heard all too First, we must accept the fact often. God told Israel, "I have loved that God has spoken to us today. you," but Israel said, "We don't believe "God, who at sundry times and in it." "Without faith it is impossible to divers manners spake in time past unto please him..." (Hebrews 11:6). the fathers by the prophets, Hath in Fourth, the old paths demand these last days spoken unto us by his to be obeyed. We say that we study Son" (Hebrews l:l-2a). "This is my and believe the word of God, but do beloved Son, in whom I am well we? Consider some of the changes pleased; hear ye him" (Matthew 17:5). that are taking place in organization, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy worship and work of the church. Ghost, whom the Father will send in Much of what is taking place in the my name, he shall teach you all things, church and called the work of the and bring all things to your remem church has no similarity at all to the brance, whatsoever I have said unto church and its work that we read you" (John 14:26). Thus, the writings about in the New Testament. How of the New Testament are given to many churches do you know of that direct our paths today. obeys the teaching of the old paths to Second, understanding that "withdraw from every brother that God has spoken to us today, the walketh disorderly" (II Thess. 3:6)? old paths demand to be read and How often do we find the kind of studied. Far too much time and at hospitality and fellowship today that tention is spent on denominational characterized the church in the first Page 4 Seek The Old Paths - October century? How many pulpits today are spite of the efforts by some to distort filled with preaching that would follow and twist the meaning of the passage, the pattern of I Peter 4:11? Too much II John 9-10 still reads, "Whosoever "preaching" gives the hearer nothing transgresseth, and abideth not in the but oracles of men, not the oracles of doctrine of Christ, hath not God.