Jeremiah 6:16-19
Thus says the Lord:
Stand at the crossroads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17Also I raised up sentinels for you:
‘Give heed to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not give heed.’
18Therefore hear, O nations,
and know, O congregation, what will happen to them.
19Hear, O earth; I am going to bring disaster on this people,
the fruit of their schemes,
because they have not given heed to my words;
and as for my teaching, they have rejected it.
Whenever I hear the word "crossroads," I think of Bone Thugs N Harmony's song/video that came out the year I graduated from High School. You can watch it here:
Watch YouTube Video
In this song the “crossroad” mentioned is the crossroad where life meets death, the place where actions of the past determine the (eternal) present. The video features the angel of death coming to take mortal souls. At the end we see a multitude of white-robed figures marching up a mountain together. It's a Hip-Hop litany of sorts, a tribute and memorialization. The first stanza by Bone asks the question "tell me what you're gonna do, when judgment comes for you.” The fourth stanza by Krazie includes the phrase "and we pray and we pray and we pray, everyday everyday everyday."
This song/video makes concrete the issues raised in Jeremiah’s proclamation to the people of Zion. All the prophets—now and then: religious, hip-hop and secular—know that our decisions at the crossroads determine our future.
Therefore hear, O congregation: it’s wise to pray, everyday.
Peace,
Emily Joye
