The Bible Was Lost in Church

The original patent for the Wright brothers' Flying Machine, filed in 1906, was one of the most significant documents in aviation history. It detailed their groundbreaking system of wing-warping for flight control, a key innovation that set their aircraft apart from earlier attempts. For decades, the patent was stored safely in the U.S. National Archives, but over time, due to neglect and poor record-keeping, it was misplaced and forgotten.

2 Kings 22:3–20 NKJV

3 Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord, saying: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. 5 And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the Lord; let them give it to those who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, to repair the damages of the house—6 to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. 7 However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.” 8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. 12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” 14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. 15 Then she said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 16 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read—17 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’ ” ’ 18 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard—19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. 20 Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the king.

The Word of God Lost

2 Kings 22:3–20 “3 Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord, saying: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. 5 And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the Lord; let them give it to those who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, to repair the damages of the house—6 to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. 7 However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.” 8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 So Shaphan the scribe went to the…”

Josiah riegned 640 BC to 609 BC. The northern Kingdom fell to asyrian empire in 722, but The southern Kingdom still had a couple of good Kings left befor they would ultimately be led to Captivity and downfall.

Josiah inherits a corrupt Kingdom and a great choice is placed before him. In our text now we see that they are rebuilding the temple that had gone into disrepair. It was in this state that the word of God was found somewhere in the temple.

1st Lesson- Some people will neglect God’s Word.

How is it that the word of God was lost in the Temple? How could those who were ministering and worshiping put away the word of GOd?

Deuteronomy 4:8–10 (NKJV)

8 And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? 9 Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, 10 especially concerning the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb, when the LORD said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’

Im afraid that Hilkiah is not the only one who was ministering in a church that has put away the bible. We live in a have it your way generation. and this is dangerous because our way doesn’t line up with God’s Word.

If we are not careful, we can put the bible away and not look back.

There is a danger that like Israel we all would go into Idolatry and say well My God would not judge sin.

I did this for a long time before I was truly converted. Fashioning a god with my own likeness.

The Word of God Found

2 Kings 22:8–20 “8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. 12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us,…”

Notice the state of the men who found the word of God, they were working on the temple. They Knew what it was when they found it.

THere were others who Just called it another book Vs10. No doubt forgotten passed around, maybe even there were some spilled coffee stains on some parts.

Think with me for a moment, The word of GOd It is worth more than any treasure you can find.

We need Men and Women and girls and boys that will see the true value of the words, and blow the dust off of our bibles and bring the word of God back into our churches.

God has a remnant, His sheep will recognize the Word of God, Even when it is in the midst of rebellion and deception.

John 10:27 “27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

The Word of God Followed

2 Kings 22:12–20 NKJV

12 Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” 14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. 15 Then she said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 16 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read—17 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’ ” ’ 18 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard—19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. 20 Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the king.

God Says, He will Bring Calamity upon those who rejected His word, and did not do what God Told them to do all the way back in

Deuteronomy 4:9 “9 Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,”

Archivists searching for the document found that it had been misfiled in the early 20th century, buried among unrelated records. The loss went unnoticed for years, and despite efforts to locate it, the patent remained elusive. It wasn’t until 2016 that officials finally uncovered the long-lost document in a box marked incorrectly, restoring a critical piece of aviation history.

This incident is a reminder that even priceless artifacts can be lost—not through destruction, but simple oversight. The Wright brothers’ patent shaped the future of flight, and its disappearance highlights how crucial proper archival care is in preserving history. While the patent was eventually recovered, many other historical records and treasures may still be waiting to be rediscovered.

Hilkiah the high priest is the one who really started this revival that sprung out of the word of God. What we need in out day and age is a people who will go back to the word of God without reservation.

God is looking for a people who will have a tender heart and obey what God has said.

John 14:15–17 “15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

Are you following Christ Friend? Are you really taking to heart when he speaks to you in his word?

OR Have we Left the bible in a box somewhere in the garage? Or even worse in the Church?

Sinking down deep through cold water and heavy silence Shadows stirring in the gloom What things lay sleeping down deep in the darkness? Woke then to find me in my tombThen with water in my eyes The words began to rise from their place They were beautiful and dread I reached for them and fed on each phrase They were honey on my lips Then a bitter twist in my side I knew they'd lay me in my grave "Is there no one who could save me?" I criedAnd when I lost all hope to look Someone took that heavy book from my hands All it's weight they set aside After they had satisfied it's demands I felt white and black reverse And the lifting of a curse from my heart Then like one receiving sight I beheld a brilliant light in the dark

Psalm 119:103 “103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!”