The Real Meaning of Life

Not to say things would have been different, but the possibility was there. In today’s reading, we see where another Josiah was appointed king at the young age of 8 years old. And despite being raised by his father, Josiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. Perhaps a maidservant or something was tasked with raising Josiah and she may have been responsible to instructing him on our loving God. Scripture doesn’t say, it just indicates that Josiah was a good king but his father was not.

And here may be a clue as to why the previous kings were so terrible; they very likely were not aware of the laws they should follow, because while they were repairing and restoring the temple, the high priest Hilkiah found the Books of the Law and brought them to Josiah.

If you remember back to the days of Moses, God instructed an Ark of the Covenant be built to safeguard certain articles, namely the tables of stone with the Ten Commandments written on them, the Book of the Law written by Moses, and a jar of manna which God instructed be saved to remind the children of Israel of their history and the time when God fed them from heaven.

And notice that Hilkiah didn’t report that he found the ark, or the Ten Commandments, or the manna, he simply found the book of Mosaic Law. This tells us that at some time, the ark of the covenant was either raided and the contents separated. And it makes one wonder how this was accomplished because we know from the life of Uzzah, you had to be pretty righteous to even so much as touch the ark or you would die. There is no record of anyone dying from touching the ark since Uzzah, so it may very well have been a high priest, with authorization to go into the Most Holy Place, to access the ark.

Then as a reminder, no one claims to know where the ark of the covenant went. Some speculate that the Jews have it hidden away, waiting for the Temple to be rebuilt. I’ve watch documentaries that report the ark is in the possession of the Roman Catholic Church and is hidden away some plate in Italy. Then a famous archeologist/explorer claims to have found it hidden away in a cave in Israel, but couldn’t get permission to open the cave which had been sealed shut. I confess I’ve not watched the series, but supposedly the move chain “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was about the search for the Ark of ht covenant.

Despite all I’ve said, the book of Moses has now been found and it can now be used in teaching or preaching once again. And for many, it will be the first time they’ve hear or read it. Now that they have the law, there is a chance they will be more attentive to God.

Where is your law? First let me state that we follow the law out of a love for God, not out of a fear of God and fear of consequences. If we fear God, we are following His law for the wrong reasons. We should follow His law because we love Him and don’t want to hurt Him. So I say again, where is your law?

It is found in your Bible? Is it out where there is a constant reminder to read it and refresh yourself on it’s contents, or is it tucked away on a book shelf somewhere collecting dust? How about that Bible app on your phone? Is it on your home screen where you are kept aware of the need to read it, or is it hidden on your apps screen between Arby’s and Carl’s Jr.? Do you read the Bible on a regular basis? Or is some day after your death, your children are cleaning out your house and come across it and say, “Hey look, we’ve found a copy of the law!”

We may never know where the Ark of the Covenant is hidden on this earth or if the tablets of stone are still contained inside. It may be that the ark was captured in one of the invasions on Israel to be carried off, and has rotted in the dust somewhere in Babylon. Only God knows. I hope hope to make it to heaven so I can ask Him what happenned to it. I would love to see Moses’ handwriting, to taste the manna God fed His children when they roamed the wilderness.

Maybe we’ll share a table in heaven and try manna together. I would love to see you there!