Specifically, God says, "Stand at the crossroads." What is implied in this word crossroads?

The KJV translates this: Stand in the ways. This is a good literal translation of the Hebrew. But the NIV translation "crossroads" is a good rendering of the intent of the passage. Stand where there is more than one way. Where different ways, or roads or paths come together. It refers to an intersection, a place where different ways converge. It is a place of choices and alternatives.

This is helpful metaphor to consider at the beginning of a new school and ministry year. We face a new beginning, with many choices and alternatives in front of us; at work, at school, in choices of leisure activities, friends, etc.

So, now we know what the crossroads are, what are we commanded to do there?

Stand. This same Hebrew word is often translated "stop". In this context, the command is not "stand" in contrast to sit or lie down. It is "stand" in contrast to walk or run. "Stand still" might be another way of rendering it.

Don’t be in such a rush, such a hurry, that you miss the opportunities that the crossroads present. So many of us seem to live our lives at such a fast pace, rushing from one thing to the next, never pausing to take stock, to contemplate, to weigh our choices and the implications.

So our first command this morning is simply this: Stand. Stop. Pause. Take some time out at this beginning of a new ministry year, or maybe for some of you, the beginning of a new phase in your life. Stand at the crossroads, the place of choices and alternatives.

OK, now we are stopped. We are standing. What now?

Look at what? Let’s follow the image. What do you look for at a crossroads? You look for signs, for clues, for markers that tell you about the destinations of the different roads. Clues as to which direction you should go. Stand and look. Read the sign posts, peer down each path or road as far as you can to discern where it goes.

The Bible gives us an idea of some things to look for. Some years ago I preached a message from the Book of Proverbs entitled "Which Way?" The word "way", the same word used here in the opening phrase, occurs over 100 times in Proverbs, referring to one’s life style and life direction. In studying those various occurrences of the word in Proverbs, I found 3 specific areas of contrast.

My wife will tell you, one thing I do not like to do is ask for directions. I’m not sure why. I just do not like to ask. I’d rather spend a little longer and figure it out for myself. To fail to ask for directions while driving may result in wasted time and a missed appointment, but to fail to ask for directions in life can result in a wasted life, destroyed relationships, broken families, disasters of all kinds. So ask!

Ask for what? The passage gives an interesting answer. Ask for the ancient paths.

That phrase reminds me of an article I read some years ago about the use of satellite imagery in archaeological studies. Modern imaging capability enables archaeologists to trace ancient paths and caravan routes even across deserts that are now covered with sand and debris. The article related how, by studying such ancient routes, the archaeologist found a place where a number of these different routes converged. They went there and began to dig, and sure enough, discovered an ancient city they didn’t know existed.

Ancient paths are not always easy to find. Ask for the ancient paths, we are told. The word ancient, in Hebrew, actually means more than just old. It could be translated "eternal" It is a word that has both the past and the future in view. The timeless, the time-tested, that which lasts.

We live in an age that loves new things. "New and improved" the advertisers scream at us. New technology, new this, new that. Old is often linked with old-fashioned, obsolete and out of date.

This kind of thinking may be appropriate when we are talking about technology. But in terms of moral values and life choices, it’s all wrong. For such choices we are instructed to ask for the ancient, the eternal ways.

The verse goes on to say: ask where the good way is. From the grammatical construction here, we know that this "good way" is synonymous with the ancient or eternal way. And it is the path that leads to a "good" or positive and beneficial outcome or destination.

How shall we find and recognize this ancient, eternal path that leads to good? Whom shall we ask, to find this ancient road? The primary way is to study the Scripture, for here we find that ancient, eternal path described. It is the way that God’s people down through the ages have discovered and walked.

Particularly this year, we are going to seek to study and discern that ancient way by studying the lives of some of God’s very earliest saints. We are going to go back to the Book of Genesis and study the lives of the patriarchs. In a sense, this is a continuation of a study that we began in the spring of 2003, when I preached a series of messages from the life of Abraham, a man whom God himself describes as "my friend."

This fall we are going to pick up that study and proceed to study the lives of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. And as we study, we are going to ask and seek for insight into the ancient, the eternal way, the way that leads to good and to blessing.

But we are not quite done with the verse, are we? Stand, Look, Ask and then…

Knowledge alone is not enough. Discernment and understanding are good things, but in and of themselves, they will not change our lives. We must come to this last ingredient in our SLAW.

Walk. (Read the verse again.)

James makes this same point in the New Testament: Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

We could paraphrase this from Jeremiah: Be walkers in the way, not lookers only.

And what will be the result of our spiritual SLAW this morning?

Actually the form is quite strong here. This is actually another command. "Find rest for your souls." I picture this almost as though God is the host, and he is forcefully extending his hospitality to us. Stop. Come in. Sit down. Rest.

Let me ask: Is your soul at rest this morning?

We sometimes read in death announcements and obituaries the phrase: "May God rest his soul in eternal peace." Do we have to wait until we die to find rest for our souls? No, we don’t. We can have rest for our souls now. A soul that is calm and at peace, because it is right with God and trusting in him.

So as we stand together on the threshold of a new school and church ministry year, let’s take some time for some spiritual SLAW.

God ends this verse on a very somber note: But you said, "We will not walk in it."

Let’s not make that same mistake.