It's in the Book

Introduction

A. Can you imagine our society forgetting how to drive a car? Can you imagine a day when Christmas will not matter to our economy or to our families? Can you imagine our world forgetting the Holocaust? Why is it not likely that we will not forget how to drive a car or the importance of Christmas? Because these things are important to us. Because these things have become so ingrained in our lives that their absence seems impossible to imagine. The Holocaust was so monumental in our world view of how people treat others, that we cannot imagine forgetting it.

B. The truth is that many things are forgotten. Most of us in this room have no idea how to drive a horse and buggy. That form of transportation has not been a regular part of our world for almost 100 years. While there are some who have driven a horse and buggy, trying to explain it is met with oohs and aahs which reflect disbelief and one’s amazement that you could still be alive. The truth is that the Holocaust is already being forgotten. Other monumental events in history have been forgotten. What is not likely to change is the way people are mistreated. Christmas — the materialism of the holiday has long overtaken the family emphasis that once surrounded the day. Many of you can remember when getting a single toy was more than one might expect.

C. The truth is that things change and with change comes a forgetting about the history of an event or the significance of an episode. Unless that event or episode is relived over and over again, then it will lose its impact. If we stopped celebrating Christmas, how long would it take for Christmas to be a distant memory? If we stopped driving cars, how long would it take for us to forget that cars even existed? If we stop talking about Hitler and the attempt to exterminate Jewish people, how long would it take for us to forget that a Holocaust happened? If we stopped reading our Bibles, how long would it take for us to forget the words, images, and themes?

D. Not long. 60 years after the end of WWII, we are faced with already the holocaust being a distant memory. 100 years after horse and buggy days, we have forgotten what that was like. Today we are going to look at 2 Chronicles 34 and see what happened with the reform of Josiah, king of Judah. And we are going to commit ourselves to remembering the significance of what God through Jesus did for us and pledging not to forget nor allow our children our grandchildren to forget.

Spring Cleaning

A. Josiah was only 8 years old when he became king. From the beginning he was interested in following God. At age 20, he began a campaign to purge Judah of places of idol worship. And at age 26 he set about repairing the temple. Money for restoration of the temple began to flow in and the money was distributed to trusted carpenters, stone cutters, laborers, and supervisors. Slowly the temple began to take shape. The temple began to look like it was ready for use. The corners of the rooms were swept out. New beams were lifted up. New stone was laid.

B. And while the remodeling was going on, the Book of the Law was found. Let that sink in just a moment. To find something is to suggest that it was lost or misplaced or at the very least unknown in existence. It is like cleaning out a closet and yelling, “Look what I found.” You didn’t know it existed or had forgotten that it was in the closet. The Law of Moses was found. Immediately it was taken to the king with these words, “We found a book in the temple…. listen to what it says.” Now again, the phrasing suggests that they weren’t exactly sure what it was. Like an old file that contains old documents, it isn’t until you read through the document that you know what it is.

C. But it didn’t take Josiah long to recognize the words. He tore his robes and immediately commanded the priests to seek the Lord’s favor and to do all was necessary to honor God according to the Law. An immediate revival began in Jerusalem and in Judea. The people pledged their allegiance to the Law. Josiah continued his reform of the kingdom by destroying all the places for idol worship. The text ends in 34:33 that as long as Josiah lived, the people followed God according to the Law.

Lessons

A. How long does it take to forget? After 60 years, there are parts of WWII that are being forgotten. Do you remember the Flying Tigers? A group of pilots who fought against Japan in order to protect China during WWII. How long does it take to forget? From the time that Hezekiah was king to the finding of the Book of the Law in the temple was about 60 years. Hezekiah had followed the Book of the Law but in 60 years it was forgotten. How long does it take to forget? Within 2 generations, the law was such a distant memory that when it was found, the people didn’t know what it was. Was there no one in the role of priest who couldn’t quote the law and its commands about festivals? Was there no one in the king’s courts who didn’t remember a time of great celebration during the reign of Hezekiah? It was less than 60 years when the Law was forgotten. How long does it take to forget?

B. Two brief lessons. Unless we are in the word regularly, we will forget. Even now I suffer from the malady of forgetting a text. I want to quote it or want to make a point and I can’t remember where it is. Even when we spend time with the text, we forget it. What happens when we quit spending time with the text? We have difficulty in knowing what comes from our culture and what is really from scripture. “God helps those who help themselves.” Biblical or cultural? “God blesses those who do his will.” Biblical or cultural? Now it is getting fuzzy. What does the word “bless” mean? There is a biblical definition and there is cultural definition? How long does it take to forget? Unless we are in the text, we will forget God’s word and live according to our own desires rather than seeking God’s will.

C. Second, the text in Chronicles confirms for us that there is an objective standard that is to be read and followed. When the law of Moses was found, the king and the people immediately began to follow it as their guide for understanding God’s will and his nature. It is no less true for us. So much of today’s religious discussions have as their basis what one wants to do or what one feels about a situation or even worse what current culture says about living. But God has left us something which can be objectively studied for direction and guidance. This collection of writings that we call the Bible are not just random stories, but a collection which reveals God’s nature and will for those who want to be his followers. The Bible has much to say about our current culture.

1.  Our culture says we should live with someone before marriage so that we can know if we are compatible. But God's word says that such an arrangement defiles marriage and is sexual sin.

2.  Our culture says that we should have a choice about whether to bring a baby to full term. But God's word says that life is God's gift.

3.  Our culture says that same sex marriage is an option based upon choice and disposition. But God's word says that same sex relationships are sinful.

4.  Our culture says that amassing wealth is a goal worth pursuing. But God's word says that wealth is to be shared.

D. God’s word is the objective standard to follow and God’s son is the objective model for how to live. And unless we are in the word, the shouts from our culture will drown out a 20 minute lesson on a Sunday morning. Unless we are in the word, we will not be able to stand against the temptations that surround us. Unless we are looking at Jesus, we will live as we choose. Unless we are listening to Jesus, we will listen to the world’s wisdom and such words lead us from God not near him. Listen to the Hebrew writer in 1:1-3. Listen to Jesus. He has finished his work. Invitation.

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