In 2 Chronicles 34-35 and also in 2 Kings 22-23 the Lord tells us about Josiah, one of the very few good kings of Judah. I was reminded while reading about him of a very interesting comment made when the Law was found by Hilkiah.

We read in 2 Chronicles 34:15 that Hilkiah found the book of the law (the Torah, or Pentateuch) God gave to Israel through Moses and told Shaphan the scribe, but notice where he found it. “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” It had probably been hidden by the priests during the reign of the evil Manasseh.

As I was thinking about this I was contemplating all the evil that arises in the heart of man when God’s Word is hidden away. Without going into all the details, prior to Josiah’s reign, much sin had overtaken God’s people, but once God’s Word had been revealed again, Josiah made a gallant effort to amend all the wrongs of past sins.

Many years later, in our day, evil people are once again being inspired by Satan to rid the people of God’s Word. At this junction of time it is unlikely that we will have a Josiah type leader to reverse our sinful actions and bring us to repentance as a nation. However, we can be a type of Josiah in our own lives and of those we love. It just takes a willingness to do so.

God’s book, the Bible, really isn’t hidden in a physical sense in this country. Bibles happen to be very plentiful in our land, but considering the message that comes from this holy book, is it possible it may be hidden in plain sight? I think so.

Josiah took great effort in destroying every idol and object of idol worship. He cleared the whole land of all the detestable offenses against God. When the book was found and read, repentance was the outcome, and Josiah’s reign was excluded from God’s judgement that would come later.

Maybe we cannot have a national repentance and returning to God as in the days of Josiah. Maybe we have gone too far. But we can have a personal repentance and returning to God if we choose. God waits with open arms for each of His own children that need to repent. He offers freely, forgiveness through His Son for all those who will come to Him to be saved.

Returning once again to Hilkiah’s words, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord,” is it possible the Book that sits openly in plain view is not seen in God’s own house today?

Bibles sit in the churches on pews, pulpits, and laps, but do we have eyes that see and ears that hear, or do we overlook the obvious? Do we use what we carry from the car to the pew? Is it even being opened at the pulpit?

Have we come to the point in our ‘modern’ culture that we use other books rather than the Book? Opinions override and the Book is ignored.

It is sad but true that often the Book is plainly visible in the temple of our time, but is purposely overlooked for words that tickle the ears. If we would only proclaim this Book, in its entirety, before the people, would we not be more blessed than we could imagine?

We seek what we don’t find and find what never lasts, because we aren’t looking in the right place. There are blessings in store for all those who will open the Book and hear with their ears.

The heart of man has a vacuum that must be filled. There are many things we pour into that heart in our search for happiness, but have we found it? No? Could it be that the one thing we keep ignoring is the only thing that will satisfy that longing? God says it is. Those who have it know that it is. Happiness, peace, contentment, joy, love, hope, can only come from God.

So many go through their entire life looking for something to make them happy, something to fulfill them, but nothing ever works. Oh, some things may work for a while, a short while, and then the longing returns stronger than ever, or either it’s been brushed aside so often, we can no longer hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit.

Satan pulls mankind into his web of lies and without the power of God on our side; we fall for the lie, just as Eve did. Jesus said, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) It is in Him that we have the real Truth and the life He so freely gives. By putting our faith in Him, we can be born again (spiritually) to a new life that is eternal. As a Christian, our joy can be rekindled by returning to the Father, as the prodigal son, and receive His warm welcome.

Life is hard. We think the other guy has it easy, but we all have our problems, and they don’t come from God. They come from a fallen world. God has the answer though, and He took great pains over many years to give it to us in writing. The answer is in a book we call the Bible, and the answer is about the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This Book, we often hide in plain view, is all about Him.

“Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:27)

If we insist on hiding the Truth, let us at least hide it where it will work in our lives. The psalmist says, “Thy word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalms 119:11) The word “hidden” in this verse actually means “treasured.” If we are willing, we can decide today to see with our eyes and hear with our ears the Truth that comes only from a loving God.

The world is still going to throw us many curves. Satan will still keep fighting against us, but we won’t be alone. Almighty God will be in our corner, and we will know and enjoy His assurances as we allow His Word to be revealed in our heart.

Grant Phillips

Twice, Jesus ran the money changers out of the Temple. The first time was at the beginning of His ministry just after His first miracle, turning the water into wine. The second time was at the end of His ministry right after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The first incident is recorded in John 2:13-25. The second incident is recorded in Matthew 21:12-16; Mark 11:15-18; and Luke 19:45-48.

Caiaphas, the high priest, and his family were becoming quite wealthy by selling sacrificial animals at the temple and exchanging (or should I say, short-changing) money for the worshippers to buy the animals for sacrifice. Furthermore, the worshippers should have been bringing their own sacrifice as prescribed by the Law, but were buying them from peddlers instead. Most of the time, the ‘sacrificial’ animals didn’t even qualify under God’s guidelines as an acceptable sacrifice.

The worshippers had gotten lazy and were not following God’s commands. Those in charge of the temple were also ignoring God’s commands and becoming wealthy due to their own greed.

Isn’t this exactly what is taking place today in churches across America? Respect for the house of God had gone out the window, not to mention respect for God who we are supposedly worshipping. Everything God has told us in His Word is being taken lightly or not at all.

The Temple of Jesus’ day was significant because it represented the God of Israel who had been their God since the days of Abraham. Very strict guidelines were given by God when they came to the structure that represented His presence among them. As a nation, they were His people, but because of His holiness, He demanded, and rightfully so, their respect.

Today the Church is the body (structure) of Christ, and where the Church meets to worship, God demands the same respect. This same God of Israel is the same God of the Church and has been so since the days of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter two.

Jesus said in Matthew 21:13, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

He said in Mark 11:17, “Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves.”

He said in Luke 19:46, “It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

He said, In John 2:16, “Take these things from here; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”

We (Christians) are all  guilty to one extent or another of showing disrespect for God’s house. When I say ‘God’s house’ you may think I’m referring to the building where the church meets, and I am. However, we also need to consider our own person. The Lord makes it clear, for example in the Apostle Paul’s letters, that we are the body of Christ.

“House of Prayer,” Where The Church Meets

I will be referring to the ‘building’ where the Church meets as the ‘church’ with a small ‘c.’ I will be referring to the ‘body of Christ’ as the ‘Church’ with a capital ‘C.’

The church should be a place that is shown the highest respect because this is where the Church comes together to worship the one and only true and holy God. Worship is directed to His only begotten Son, Jesus, because it is Jesus that provides our eternal salvation by His works. It is the Holy Spirit that has sealed each of us as a guarantee of our salvation and security in Him. Because of our faith in His Son, the Father gives us grace we don’t deserve. We come together to learn of Him, and by doing so, to live for Him in our daily lives.

Much disrespect has been shown this church when so many things go on within its walls that dishonor the one it represents, our holy God.

When I was a child in church I dared not make a disturbance of any kind. There would be immediate consequences to pay. However today, children and adults alike do not treat the church in a manner that deserves respect. It is just a place to meet and entertain each other, and then go home, feeling so good, and saying, “What a fine service we had today.”

“House of Prayer” the Body of Christ

What about us as individuals? What kind of respect are we showing the Father with our lives, not just our bodies, but our whole self?

Can those without Christ tell any difference in how they live and how we live? Have they ever heard anything from us about God? Are we ‘uppity’ toward them, or do we play along and wallow in their sins with them? Are we wrapped up in the things of the world, or the things of God? What do we talk about? What do we listen to? What do we read?

If Jesus would walk into many churches today, I have no doubt that He would do exactly what He did over 2,000 years ago as recorded in the Scripture verses mentioned at the beginning of this article.

And how many of us Christians will have only wood, hay and stubble to show for our lives when He examines our works? (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) The Scriptures say that we (true Christians) are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in us. (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Is our house a “den of thieves?” We need to know the answer to that question. We need to talk to Him about it and get it settled once and for all.

“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

This is a statement God made to His own people. We (true Christians) are also His people. Could He be making that statement to us today? Think about it.

Grant Phillips