How did all this begin? How did the world get so deceived? How did the ‘church’? Are God’s people vulnerable to being deceived by the world?
Yes and it begins at the beginning. But rather than go back to Genesis 1, let us look at just what extent the deceit had penetrated the chosen people of God who dwelt in Jerusalem, the city of God.
2 Kings 22:1-8 Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign. And he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did the right in the sight of Jehovah, and walked in all the way of David his father, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Josiah was only one of 8 of the 39 combined kings of Judah and Israel that did right in the sight of the Lord. In fact, he did not let himself be distracted by the world all around him and daily strove to keep his eyes, heart, and mind on Jehovah.
And it happened in the eighteenth year of Josiah, the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam the scribe, to the house of Jehovah, saying, Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, so that he may count the silver which is brought into the house of Jehovah, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. And let them deliver it into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the house of Jehovah. And let them give it to the workers who are in the house of Jehovah, in order to repair the breaks of the house, to carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and cut stone to repair the house. Only, the silver that is given into their hand shall not be reckoned with them, for they are dealing in faithfulness.
One of his most important tasks was to rebuild the Temple of God that had gone into ruin over the years and therefore, commissioned this restoration. Remember, the Temple was still in Jerusalem, which had been built by Solomon and formerly dedicated to the only true and living God. But, just how far had the people and their worship departed from God’s Word?
And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the Book of the Law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkiah gave the Book to Shaphan, and he read it.
Can you believe this? God’s chosen people and the line of Aaron, who were to be God’s high priests, had lost the very words of God! What had been substituted in place of the Book of the Law?
Why had the priests totally lost interest in it, totally forgotten it, and had gone on to some other form of worship. Any other form of worship is false and demonic. They lost it in the Temple!!!
How has the ‘church’ done the same today? When ‘churches’ led by pastors ignore the Old Testament, which is approximately 75% of the entire Bible, they in effect have also lost the basis of true worship and understanding. The ‘New’ Testament is not a replacement of the ‘Old’ Testament, but more like a commentary to understanding it in light or the revised or new covenant.
Has your ‘church’ lost the Book? Have you?