It is my practice to send a daily bit of wisdom to my kids and grandkids. It might be a Bible verse, a quote from something I am reading or have read. I have even found worthwhile wisdom on X and Instagram. Occasionally I use things I have thought up all by myself.
I got the idea from Job, you know, the Old Testament guy who lost everything.
Job had thousands of sheep and camels, hundreds of oxen, and he was fabulously wealthy even by our standards. He also had seven sons and three daughters. We have that in common, Job and I. While I’m not fabulously wealthy, I also have three daughters.
The Book of Job tells us that along with his large family he had an exceptionally large household and adds; “This man was the greatest of all the people of the East.”
His family would get together from time to time. We are told of Job’s concern for his family. “So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all.” Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.” Job 1, 1-5
While it might not have been apparent to them, Job was looking out for his family.
A few days ago, I saw a nugget of wisdom as I scanned “social” media. It was on X, formerly known as Twitter. It brought Job to mind.
The wise words were: “Old roads, old dogs, old folks and old ways still have a lot to offer in this sped-up world in which we live.”
You know I am an old guy, right? Well, I agree with those words. Call me old fashioned, but many things were better back in the day. I also don’t think I am the only one who thinks that. I used those words for that day’s “Thought for your day” as I chose to call it.
There were a couple of responses in my inbox indicating others had also thought those words were wise.
But then I started thinking. — That is my whole purpose in doing this, to challenge thinking, not just in myself, but in “the number of them all,” to whom I send these “burnt offerings” daily. (Job remember?}
Now granted, there are a few on my list who are not actually among “the number of them all.” If that is you, you may be wondering how you found yourself on the list. My apologies if that be the case.
As I read about the “old roads, dogs, folks, and ways,” I recalled reading with my friend Matthew Henry sometime back about the Old Paths and I looked it up. It is in 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.”
Jeremiah was concerned his people were straying from the truth. And also they were under threat from the King of the North.
“Stand in the ways” as Jeremiah puts it, carries the idea of being at a cross-road, unsure of which way to go. Jeremiah’s advice, find the old paths and keep to them! Good advice for us as well. And Jeremiah continues, “You will find rest for your souls.” I like that idea.
But many times in scripture, we also find a warning. Jeremiah continues in v16, “But they said.’We will not walk therein. And then there is a further warning in verse 17; “Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.”
Some people, you just can not help.
Do not be unhearing.”
“Harken” and “walk therein,”
Do the right thing.
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