BURIED TREASURE

BURIED TREASURE 2 Chronicles 34 November 18, 2007 Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Introduction His father, Amon, was a disgrace. His immorality, his idolatry and his flagrant abuse of power was legendary. He embarrassed the family, embarrassed the nation of which he was king, but worst of all, he embarrassed his little son, Josiah. The eight year old had heard stories of his grandfather, Maasseh—how wicked and godless a man he was. But he had been long dead. Amon, his father was very much alive. At least he had been until word spread through the palace that his high-ranking officials had finally had enough. They had conspired against him and assassinated him that morning. What does a boy do when his infamous dad is murdered? Does he grieve? Celebrate? What about him and his mother? Were they in danger, too? Had his father’s wickedness brought down an indictment on them as well? The sound of footsteps coming down the hall now. He could tell by the familiar sound of their sandals on the tile floor—it was the same men who killed his father. Would his life be taken after only eight years? The officials entered the room with his mother. The elite guard were with them. The huge men closed in around him. Then, without warning, they dropped to their knees and removed their hats, bowing in reverence to him. What was happening? Expecting to die, Josiah was being honored? They acted like he was king or something. King? Yes, that was it—he was the king by right of succession, being Amon’s first born son. “But I’m just a boy! I’m only eight years old!” He looked up and saw his own mother bowing before him. It was true – he was the new king of Judah! Though young, Josiah had the instant respect of everyone who knew him, because he was a godly boy, not like his father. So disgusted at his father’s behavior he determined even at a tender age that he would not grow up to be like his forbears. He wanted nothing to do with their disgraceful legacy. He began his remarkable reign when the friends his age were running the dusty streets of Jerusalem, playing games. He continued to live righteously, devoted to the traditions of the Temple. At age twelve he began massive religious reform, trying to right the Jewish religious practices that had become so superficial and perfunctory. At sixteen, he turned his heart toward God in a deeply meaningful way. He sought the Lord with all his heart much as his ancestor King David did. Within weeks his faith would be so strong that it drove him to hate the idolatry and empty religion of those around him. He determined to use his authority as king to cleanse Palestine of the filth and idol worship that had plagued all of Israel and Judah for generations. The boy king began a torrid, even violent rampage of destruction of the high places of pagan worship, cutting down the Asherah poles, and laying waste the carved images that exalted false gods and brought offense to the true God Yahweh. Josiah would not live long. Still a young man he was mortally wounded on the plains of Megiddo by the archers of King Neco of Egypt. The books of the Kings and the Chronicles would describe his short but powerful reign in glowing terms, perhaps the greatest, most righteous king since David. The historians would commit to print all that he did in his massive reform, including his most celebrated accomplishment. Let’s read from 2 Chronicles 34:14 to the end of the chapter. Of all the stirring things that happened in and through the heart of Josiah, none was as profound as finding the book of the Law of God in the rubble of the Temple. Like a treasure hidden for ages, then brought into the light, this book—probably a section from the book of Deuteronomy—radically changed him and the nation. Throughout history, the revival under Josiah has gone down as the greatest reform in all the chronology of Israel. And the crowning event, the most important catalyst, was the re-discovery of the book of God. Through the centuries since then there have been noteworthy times and places where true spiritual reforms and revivals have taken place among the people of God. During such events God has raised up individuals who served in key roles of great spiritual leadership. Even a cursory study of these events reveals they all had a common denominator: the re-discovery of God’s Word. When religion has gone weak and meaningless, when once-fiery faith has cooled to tepid tap water; when loving God has become laughable and serving Him qualifies you for psychiatric care. At those times when men and women have lost their way spiritually and their lives come unraveled, God has a way of correcting and caring, judging and healing. He lets His living Word spring to life again. Those who are captured by its light are changed, infected by a virus of renewed love for the Lord. They begin to touch others with the genuineness of what they are learning and experiencing, and the benevolent virus spreads. Lives are changed; families are put right; churches are turned on their ear; whole communities start feeling the effects of revival. Nothing brings health to life, personal and corporate. Suddenly there is a new zeal for things noble, right, pure and lovely, things admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. People start becoming more – well, human, again. In every spiritual awakening in history there has been at the heart of it a renewed love for the Truth of His Word. The great Reformation during the 16th and 17th centuries was due to a rediscovery of the guiding truth of the Word of God. The sacred Word of God had for centuries remained shrouded in the dead language of Latin by Rome’s decree, forbidden from the common man’s access. Those days were aptly named the Dark Ages. But the translations by Tyndale, Luther, and others, which put Scripture back into the vernacular of the people, fueled the movement of the Spirit of God that would revive and transform God’s Church throughout Europe. Concurrently, Erasmus published several editions of the Greek New Testament that generated renewed fervor for the original text of the Scriptures. It was this fervor, this zeal for the Book — and its doctrines — which propelled missionary expansion into Asia, Africa and the Americas in the centuries that followed. At the heart of every major revival there was a revitalized interest in the teachings of the pages of scripture, a resuscitated love for His Word. It was true for Josiah. It is true today. Over the years I have discipled all kinds of individuals. They’ve each had their stories, their testimonies of how their lives were changing from something dry and joyless into genuine spiritual adventure. They speak of coming alive, of being somehow resurrected to a new life. And without fail, they tell me the main reason for their faith and their life is the discovery or re-discovery of the Bible. Pagans who came to faith in Christ talk about the time when they heard the word shared with them from a pulpit, a radio, a barstool or across their living room. Suddenly it was meaningful to them—they understood; they saw the light of the glory of Christ’s gospel. It was the book. Christians who had gone cold and dormant in their faith—same thing. Some just picked up their Bible one day and started reading and a revolution began. Others heard a scriptural truth from a friend that re-ignited the flame. I once spoke with a man who had been letting his child ride the church bus every Sunday, but never himself darkened the door. His 7-year old daughter insisted that he help her with her memory verse for the week so she could win a prize. As she stumbled through her version of the Bible text, he checked her, reading from her Bible. He said he stared crying, and couldn’t understand where such strong emotions came from. It was the Book! Like a buried treasure, suddenly unearthed, coming up from a grave, bringing its light. I’ve sat in hospitals and nursing homes trying to stir meaningful conversation with the sick, the elderly and the dying. It’s difficult to get any lucidity—hardly ever a spark of interest. But then, before I leave, I ask if I may read a passage of scripture. Suddenly the ears perk up, the tired, bent back straightens. The eyes come newly open and betray fresh pools of tears. It’s the Book! It’s the living, active Word of God, cutting like a double edged sword into their heart and mind, slicing away deadness and probing their souls about things just, righteous and eternal. So many people today are lukewarm toward God. And they are lukewarm toward life. Their faith is cool and they have spiritual rigormortis. And their dead church hasn’t helped them, because the Bible has been set aside in deference to social and political commentary. They need the life-giving truth that can only come from the Book. Proverbs says that for those who embrace the wisdom of the Word it will bring life to them! (Proverbs 3:18) David cried out to the Lord in Psalm 119:25 – I am laid low in the dust; renew my life according to your word. If you are hurting today, smarting from the wounds that life has inflicted on you, stuck in sin, drowning in depression, you know what you need. You need the book. Do yourself a great favor. Make a commitment to read your Bible on every available occasion. Drink health and life back into your Spirit. Get godly wisdom, healing insights, protective guidance. You Bible has lain dormant and dusty for way too long. I want to encourage you with two practical recommendations this morning. Through the generous gift of a Christian benefactor, hundreds of thousands of audio New Testaments are being handed out across the United States this morning. They come in the form of CD’s in MP3 format and are excellent for listening. We have a copy for every person this morning, and you can get yours on your way out. They are available free of charge. Those who wish to give a donation to the organization that is providing these gifts will find a basket on the table where you can leave cash or a check made out to MECF. This is a convenient way to receive a regular diet of God’s Word while you’re driving or getting ready for work or school. Copy the file onto your MP3, stick your ear buds in and listen to the New Testament all day long. If you’re really creative, you can hook it up to your morning alarm and wake up to the recitation of God’s Word. The second recommendation I have for you is a prepared schedule printed out in a four page flyer, that will take you through the entire Bible in the year 2008 with readings that will take you from 20-30 minutes each day, six days a week. As you finish each week’s readings you can check off those scriptures. I’m making this available to you with the hope that many of you will make it a new year’s resolution to read your entire Bible in 2008. I even provide you a reminder to email me at the end of each quarter, letting me know that you’re staying up to date. I’ll be reading with you. I want to close with a quick rehearsal of six biblical/spiritual reasons why you should read your Bible on a daily basis. 1. It is your spiritual nourishment. Without regular, devoted reading in God’s Word, quite frankly, you will starve to death spiritually.   2. It is your source for transformed values. The Bible is not for information only, it is for your transformation. Romans 12:2 challenges believers with the truth that we must not be conformed to the pattern of this world’s thinking. Rather we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we can test and prove what the will of God is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. Scripture delivers us from the bondage of a temporal perspective and gives us an eternal value system.   3. It is your source of strategies against temptation. David knew this. That’s why he spoke with God and said, I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you [webmasters note: Psalm 119:11]   4. In the Word of God you can find exclusive guidelines for decision-making. We need a working knowledge of godly truth that will equip us to make good decisions in our lives. If you want to be a good boss or employee, parent or child, husband or wife, a good citizen, a good worker, a good neighbor, a good anything, draw on the ready resources of divine guidance.   5. Your only source for knowing God. The Bible is a progressive revelation of the Person of Jesus Christ and the plan, character, mind, love and will of our Creator. We cannot hope to know Him and His ways apart from time spent in His revealed Word. He gave us His Word for this express purpose—that we might know Him intimately and know Him well.   6. It is also your only reliable source for knowing yourself. The Bible cuts through the facade of appearances and lays bare our secret motivations and plans. As we read it, the Word becomes a mirror that exhibits our true character, exposes areas of self-delusion and exhorts us to change toward Christ’s image.       [Back to Top]