I’ve wrestled with where to start this morning’s post, but finally landed here, with this comment regarding the Scriptures – a quote I read this week on a social media post, that has left me aching inside:
As I continue to study the background for the little book of Habakkuk, I went back to examine what was happening in Israel and Judah at the time the prophet wrote (approximately 640-615 BC).
Habakkuk and Jeremiah were contemporaries. Both of them spoke words of warning, and prophesied against the nation of Judah.
At the time, Israel (the Northern Kingdom) had already been given multiple chances of repenting and returning to the Lord, but had blatantly rebelled.
Judah (the Southern Kingdom) watched as the Assyrians swept in and conquered Israel just as Isaiah had prophesied (and by conquer, I mean horrible destruction and unspeakable atrocities) and carried the people off into captivity.
I must remind you that the Lord is slow to anger…and equally, if not more, as slow to bring judgment.
Israel had ample time to RETURN to the Lord.
But, she didn’t….
Judah observed all this…
She knew exactly why the Lord allowed the Assyrians to carry Israel away….and, now echoing the same prophetic judgment, as those who warned Israel, she received her own opportunity.
“Return to me…” said the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah.
“Stop listening to deceptive words….”
“Do not put your trust in them…”
Josiah is King of Judah.
He was eight years old when he came into power.
IMAGINE!
As Jeremiah prophesied, Josiah began to make some reforms (by now, he was 26).
He started in the temple, which was in ruins…
First, he sent in a cleaning crew…more than ruins needed to be swept away, the immorality inside God’s holy temple was obscene (even some of the temple “priests” had become male prostitutes)!
After that, came a remodeling crew.
In the midst of the REMODEL, one of the workers FOUND the Word of the Lord/the Book of the Law (this is all found in 2 Kings 22 and 23).
Just sit with this a minute.
To find something, means that something was lost….
Simple reasoning concludes:
THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS LOST IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD.
I am the temple of the Lord….
Those who walk with Jesus, and who have invited Him to rule and reign in their hearts, are HIS TEMPLE, too.
What are we doing with His WORD?
Is it lost in the temple?
Definition of lost – AGAIN, SIT WITH THIS:
Unable to find one’s way…
Very confused, or insecure, or in great difficulty
Not using advantageously, to “waste”
To be defeated
To be broken or destroyed
Ever felt this way?
In my mind, there is a heart-connection…
If I feel lost, what I often find is that the Word of the Lord has been lost in the temple (me).
If I’m unable to find my way – I need the Word.
When confused, feeling insecure, struggling – I need the Word.
If the enemy gets the upper hand, and I’m finding myself defeated, discouraged, distressed – I need the Word.
And, in times I’ve been broken, you guessed it – I’ve needed the Word.
And so I ask: Are we losing the Word of God in the church today?
I am desperate for the WORD daily….
May it never be “lost” in me!
XXXXX
There’s more to this story….I’ll tell you what happened when the Word of the Lord was FOUND and given to the people next week. Smile.
XXXXX
PS. As I look again at the definition of “lost,” I see our beloved country. Don’t you? We are confused, losing our way, wasting our energy on divisive issues, feeling discouraged and, yes, a bit broken during this craziness of 2020.
America – we need to find the Word that has been lost to us. That ancient book is still relevant IN EVERY WAY & FOR EVERYTHING today!!!
