How’s Your Hiding Place?

When I was a kid, I liked to play hide-and-seek, as I’m sure many of you did. The one who is the best at hiding is the one that wins.

As I was reading my devotional this morning, I found myself thinking about hiding, specifically about what we hide and our motivation for doing so. The devotional I read highlighted the story of Josiah —one of Judah’s good kings who came to the throne when he was eight (2 Kings 22). Hilkiah, the high priest, found the book of the law hidden and forgotten in God’s temple. He had it read to the king.

Josiah was convicted of his and the nation’s sins.

He tore his clothes in remorse. When the book of the law was read to the people, they repented of their sins and returned to worshiping God.

I was impressed from the Bible’s stories that people hide things for three reasons: First, for protection, as when Moses’ mother hid him in river reeds to protect his life, or when David hid God’s Word in his heart to protect him from committing sin. The second reason people conceal something —usually for less than honorable purposes— is so that others won’t know or find out. For example, Achan stole and hid the forbidden spoil that the Israelites were not to take when conquering Jericho.

He ended up dying for that action (Joshua 7:10–26).

The third reason people hide things is to forget or not be held accountable for something. That brings us back to King Josiah.

When the hidden book of the law was found, the Israelites realized they were now accountable.

When they eventually rejected God’s commands, their “reward” was to be taken into captivity by the Babylonians, where they would learn their lesson the hard way. So how about you and me? What kind of hide-and-seek are we playing? And why? If you are like me, you have probably hidden at some time in your life for one or more of the reasons listed above. But the good news, dear sisters, is that if you find yourself hiding in the wrong place for the wrong reason, there is still time to change your hiding place. God is ever patient with us, not willing that even one should perish (see 2 Peter 3:9). As David did, let’s all strive to hide God’s Word in our hearts and keep our hearts hidden in Jesus. Let us never forget You, Lord.

Debra Snyder