The ancient church taught a doctrine referred to as “the two ways.” For example, The Didache, a document composed in the second half of the first century, opens with a discussion of “two ways, one of life and one of death.”
This teaching, which sounds almost simplistic, is scriptural. We find it scattered throughout the Old Testament. It’s in the Law:
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.” – Deuteronomy 30:19-20a
And the Writings:
“For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” – Psalm 1:6
And the Prophets:
“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: “See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.”’” – Jeremiah 21:8
“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?’” – Ezekiel 18:25
And let’s not leave out the New Testament! Jesus repeated this doctrine, too:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14
These verses from the Bible emphasize the moral contrast between righteousness and wickedness and the fruit each elicits. But there’s another verse about the two ways which, while touching on moral conduct, digs deeper.
“See if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” – Psalm 139:24 (NASB)
In most cases, the differences between the two ways are obvious, but not here. The psalmist David can’t tell if he’s following God’s path or if he’s treading in a dangerous direction. The phrase, “hurtful way,” means “way of pain.” The Hebrew word for pain, otseb, is not a common term, occurring only four times in the entire Old Testament. Besides Psalm 139:24, here are the other verses:
“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’” – 1 Chronicles 4:9
“And it will be in the day when the LORD gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and harsh service in which you have been enslaved.” – Isaiah 14:3 (NASB)
“Therefore I declared them to you long ago, before they took place I proclaimed them to you, so that you would not say, ‘My idol has done them, and my graven image and my molten image have commanded them.’” – Isaiah 48:5 (NASB)
Did you catch that? Three times otseb is translated “pain” (or “hurt”) but in Isaiah 48:5, it’s “idol.” What’s that about?
Substituting anything for the Lord irritates and injures. Intended or not, idolatry tortures.
So was David worried about idolatry? Did he harbor inclinations to abandon God and pursue false deities?
He doesn’t know. David’s not sure about himself, so he opens up his soul to the Lord’s scrutiny. David frets that the desires of his heart might not align with the will of God. Only the Lord knows for sure.
How can the wrong way create pain? I can testify from my childhood experiences not paying attention to where you’re going hurts. Five times I had to get stitches because I ran into walls or trees or rode my tricycle into a lamppost! I wasn’t trying to harm myself, but that’s what happened!
Others can hurt us, too. Because I’m a diabetic, I get blood tests twice a year to check on my sugar levels. Some nurses are so good that I can’t feel when they stick a needle in my arm. Others? It’s more like exploratory surgery. Without anesthesia! The wrong way stings!
Who does idolatry hurt? Everyone–us, others, and yes, even God.
He is the Creator and Lord of the heavens and the earth. To rebel against His order invites trouble and the price is high. So high, in fact, that it kills. And that’s why Jesus died in our place–so that we could be forgiven our idolatry and all the pain we’ve inflicted.
“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” – Hebrews 9:22
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14
In contrast to the pain and confusion that idolatry brings, God offers us blessings through Jesus.
“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30
The doctrine of the two ways reduces life to opposing paths: God’s way and anything else. Any decision we make which distances us from His heart fosters pain whether we sense it or not. But God is merciful and puts us on the right road if we’re willing. His is the way of blessing, and as David recognized, it’s eternal.
And as we follow Jesus, so are we.
“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” – 1 John 2:17
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