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What Is This?
Introduction:
At the Gold City Gem Mine in
Franklin, North Carolina customers pay a small fee for a “bucket of
dirt” out of the mine. The dirt contains rocks, usually worthless.
The joy is in the treasure hunting and occasionally a real gemstone
out of the mine is found. In July of 1995, a third-grader named
Griffin McCurry, paid for just such a bucket of dirt. As you might
expect, it didn’t look as if there was any hidden treasure; but
there was a rock in it that the boy kept just because he liked the
shape. People Magazine reported that it was a saleswoman
from the jewelry store at the mine who noticed the rock and gave it
a closer inspection. As it turned out the 1,104 carat sapphire had
a value of approximately $45,000.
Everybody likes a good treasure
story. The story of the discovery of the Law in the Temple during
Josiah’s renovation is about as good as they come; because God’s
Word is a treasure that is priceless.
Text:
II Kings 22-23
Body:
I. Environment Is No Excuse
(Verses
1-2)
·
The father of
Josiah was Amon. (II
Kings 21:25-26)
Amon was evil like his father, Manasseh. (II
Kings 21:19-22)
He allowed human sacrifices, brought idols into the temple, used
mediums and necromancers, and forsook the Lord God.
·
Josiah grew up in
this household environment . Despite the wickedness of his parents;
he still chose to do right. Israelite parents had an obligation to
teach their children to love and obey God. (Deuteronomy
6:6-9)
·
Josiah chose not to
let his parent’s evil ways define who he was and what he would
become. He rose above it and made his own decisions. (II
Kings 22:19)
·
Like Josiah, if the
religion of our forefathers is wrong, then we need to leave it
forever. (Matthew
10:37)
II. The Law Was Lost (Verse
8)
·
Where? In the
temple! Josiah then received the book of the Law. (Verses
10-13)
·
Something had
replaced the Word. Today in many congregations, the law of Christ
is lost. (Romans
8:2)
Opinions, traditions, psychology, self-help, philosophies of men,
fluff, feel-good sermons have become replacements for God’s Word. (Matthew
15:6b-9)
·
There had been a
famine of the Word. (Amos
8:11-12)
But the Word was their most precious possession. (Psalm
19:7-11)
It had not become obsolete. (Hebrews
4:12)
III. Josiah’s Heart Could Be Touched
(Verse
11)
·
Josiah’s repentance
led to reform. (II
Kings 23:1-20)
·
The Passover was
restored. (II
Kings 23:21-25)
·
The Word of God has
power to convict. (Isaiah
55:11, Proverbs 6:23)
·
All must have a
tender heart. (Acts
2:36-37)
“Good soil”
·
Receive the Word.
(James
1:21)
Conclusion:
The Bible is precious to us.
Let us always be mindful if its value.
Bobby Stafford
January 27, 2013
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