2 Chronicles 34:14-15, 18-21a
(2 Chronicles 34:1-33 and 2 Kings 22:1-20)
The Book of the Law in the House of the LORD
Now when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law given by Moses. Then Hilkiah answered and 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. … Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, “Go inquire of the LORD for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found. [NJKV]
INTRODUCTION
When I was growing up, on most weekends, I would watch my dad and brothers working on car engines, usually it was my oldest brother’s car. [I guess, things like that just never change for dad’s who have teenage drivers in the family. It seems that there is always something that needs to be looked at.] Whenever they did repairs, they would always have out the big old yellow [Chilton’s] Auto Repair Manual. You could always count on the auto manual to tell you how to do the job right.
Of course today our cars are so hi-tech that it would take a sizeable investment just to have the right equipment available to repair engines. So instead of working on the engines ourselves, we now just take them to the auto mechanic. Instead of figuring out the Auto Repair Manuals we have given over to just figuring out the car’s Owner’s Manual.
Soon after my father’s death as we were cleaning up and going through the house we came across the old yellow Auto Repair Manual. You can just imagine how exciting it was for my oldest brother to discover this old repair manual. Upon seeing the book, it brought back many happy memories of how he and dad had worked together so often on his car.
Text Background Summary -
Just as our story about the old repair manual being found and the joy it caused for my brother, so too does our text talk about another old book which was discovered during the reign of King Josiah.
Josiah reigned as king of Judah from 640-609 B.C. During his eighteenth year of his reign, he was having the Temple repaired. During this restoration period, the Book of the Law was found by Hilkiah, the high-priest, who in turn gave it to Shaphan, the scribe, who delivered it to King Josiah, who upon hearing it read tore his clothes (a sign of deep mourning/importance over an event) – saying, “Go inquire of the LORD … concerning the words of the book,” for me, and for those who are left in Israel and Judah.
A. The Book in the House of the Lord then –
How exciting it must have been for Hilkiah, the High-Priest, to discover this book in the temple. He too must have delighted in its discovery, as my brother did in his. However, it must be admitted, that Hilkiah’s discovery was much more important than finding an old “Egyptian Chariot Repair Manual” – for what he had discovered was the “Book of the Law in the House of the LORD.”
So important was this book of the Lord [most likely – The Pentateuch (Five Books of Moses)] that King Josiah demanded to -
1. Learn what it said.
2. Understand what it said – “When all else fails, read the directions’”
3. Follow what it said.
NOTE – Josiah was making God’s Book of the Law – as his and Judah’s Rule of Faith and Practice.
B. The Book in the House of the Lord today –
Now, just as here in our OT text, where we find that God’s Word was the Book of His House --- so too today --- we also find His Word, the Bible, is the Book of this House of the LORD.
And we too today, just as King Josiah in his day, should demand concerning this book that we -
1. Learn what it says.
2. Understand what it says.
3. Follow what it says.
NOTE: Making this Book, God’s Word (as exampled in our text), our Rule of Faith and Practice.
TOPIC
I. – LEARN – What it says:
WHY? – because it is Inspired --- Infallible/Inerrant --- and Infinite.
1) Inspired –
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Thus the Bible is –
a. God-breathed --- It is God’s message, not mans.
b. God’s revealed message --- Nature testifies that a Creator exists, Scripture reveals our Creator.
c. Tells us (His creatures) how to be reconciled to Him --- Who is: Holy – Righteous – Just.
d. It is Profitable … His Word tells us how to live.
2) Infallible/Inerrant – [i.e., Incapable of Error -- Free of Error]
John 17:17
Sanctify them by your truth. Your Word is truth.
God’s Word is without error --- truthful --- trustworthy --- it is there for us to follow.
A. The post-modernist will tell you that there is no such thing as absolute truth – “Your
opinion is just as good as mine, so therefore believe what you want for it does not make a difference.”
Tell that to the person who says that it does not matter that the R/R crossing lights are flashing – since absolute truth does not exist it does not mean a train is coming – I wonder what that person’s last words will be when he realizes the truth about the flashing red lights when he and the train collide at the crossing?
NOTE – If the Word of God is not Infallible/Inerrant, then –
a. What part do you leave out?
b. Who gets to decide which parts are true and which are false?
c. Who would you trust?
NOTE: If all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) --- who then among mankind would be worthy enough to trust to decipher concerning the accuracy of Scripture? – Among men, there is none to be found --- None, but the Lamb of God, Himself – cf. Revelation 5:1-7.
B. Jesus said --- “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
NOTE – Do you believe this? [OR] Do you think that it does not matter how you get to heaven? --- Is the Bible “Infallible” and “Inerrant”? --- If so, then listen –
“AGAIN” - my friend:
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – NO WAY – NO HOW – NO ONE – EXCEPT JESUS - (Acts 4:10-12) – TO COME TO GOD.
3) Infinite –
Psalm 119:89
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled [lit. “stands firm”] in heaven.
a. How long is infinity? --- How far is the east from the west?
b. Forever, the Word of God stands firm in heaven.
Jesus said concerning God’s Word, that not one jot or tittle would pass away before it is fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-20). – Truly, God’s Word is settled!
1 Peter 1:22-25
You have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
NOTE – Therefore, since the Word of God lives and abides forever --- It becomes imperative that we not only learn about it, but that we also know what it says -
II. – Understand – what it says:
2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
NOTE - Study God’s Word not to prove your position, but to see what it actually says.
Christians, especially us as Baptists [Who Were Once Known As People of the Book], need to quit trying to prove our “pet” doctrines by the Word of God. --- Instead we need to “honestly” study the Word of God and let it “honestly” determine our doctrines.
1. Salvation
What is more important to mankind?
Hebrews 4:12
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
NOTE: The Word brings us to a knowledge of who God is and who we are in relation to Him.
Romans 10:8-11, 13-15a
[W]hat does it [Scriptures] say? The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” … For “whoever will calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
NOTE: Without the Word of God --- we will not call on Him, of whom we know nothing about --- Oh, how we need to be witnesses of His grace in our lives. So that others may “learn” of Him and live.
1 John 5:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
NOTE: The Bible is written that you may believe in Jesus Christ.
Oh, my friend, listen --- there is no other book more important for you to read than the Bible.
All other books contain only information about stuff, stuff which will perish someday.
But, please understand that This Book --- God’s Word --- The Bible --- is the only book that tells you how to find eternal life!
2. Sanctification
Sanctification means setting apart unto holy or Godly use -
John 17:17
Sanctify them by your truth – Your word is truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
NOTE: It is God’s Word which the Holy Spirit uses to make us into the image of our Lord --- i.e., Christian.
CONCLUSION
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
1) Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
2) For God will bring every work into judgment – including every secret thing – whether it is good or whether it is evil.
NOTE: We should be striving everyday to conform our lives in a manner that honors God and brings glory to our Lord and Savior.
A. Believer –
What do you think about the Bible?
If you say that it is the Word of God to you – then does your life express it!
B. Non-Believer –
What do you think about the Bible?
1. If you say that it is not the Word of God – then what are you placing your eternity in?
NOTE: Jesus is the author (Hebrews 1:1-2) of the Bible. If you trust Him --- you surely can trust His book.
2. If you say that it is the Word of God – then what hinders you today from obeying it?
Mark 1:14-15
Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God … saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
NOTE - Charles Spurgeon stated:
"We have come to a turning-point in the road. If we turn to the right, [perhaps] our children and our children’s children will go that way; but if we turn to the left, generations yet unborn will curse our names for having been unfaithful to God and to His Word." ----- Those words ring with prophetic urgency more than a century after they were written. [R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Feedback to mail@albertmohler.com].
Which direction in the road are you willing to travel down today?
Bruce Allen
Edwardsport FBC
June 20, 2004
bea0210@hotmail.com
bcallen0101@aol.com
