Have you ever lost something and search as hard as you might, you just couldn’t find it? I think we’ve all been there. My solution to this is to purchase the lost item’s replacement and within no time, I discover the original lost item. Former Navy officer Robert D. Ballard, along with French oceanographer Jean-Louis Michel are credited with discovering something that had been long lost for over 70 years.
On April 14, 1912, the RMS Titanic sank. “After striking an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912, the Titanic didn’t immediately stop or sink. Instead, it continued moving forward through the North Atlantic, drifting roughly 10 to 12 miles (16 to 19 kilometers) before coming to a full stop.
“The ship finally sank at 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912, nearly three hours after the collision…[the] slow forward drift is one reason where the Titanic sank is slightly different from where it first struck the iceberg. It also explains why the debris field covers such a wide area of the ocean floor today.
“One of the most haunting facts about where the Titanic sank is just how deep it lies beneath the surface. The wreck rests at an incredible 12,500 feet (2.37 miles / 3.81 kilometers) below the Atlantic Ocean.”1
The remains of the shipwreck have been sought by explorers for decades. However, it wasn’t until September 1, 1985 that Ballard and Michael found the wreckage using an unmanned submersible called The Argo. The Argo sent pictures up to the research vessel and while watching the screen, The Argo “passed over one of the Titanic‘s massive boilers, lying at a depth of about 13,000 feet.” On this day in 1985, the ship was discovered.2
Now, 114-years later and the Titanic enthusiasm hasn’t dwindled. Museums and live dramatizations are enacted, keeping the tragic moment alive. Years ago, while in Pigeon Forge, we had the privilege of going through the Titanic Museum Attraction. The man depicting the captain of the Titanic was a born again Christian and his message was powerful, right down to the sharing of the Gospel!
The explorers knew that the Titanic’s remains were down there somewhere. They just had to find it. The thrill of the discovery can only be dampened by the discovery that should have never been lost in the first place. Even though 114 years have passed, there is still a solemn hush that fills the Titanic Museum Attraction because of all those lives that were lost on a ship that should have never sunk
Josiah found himself in a similar situation when that which never should have been lost was found. 2 Kings 22:8-11 says, “And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. (9) And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD. (10) And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. (11) And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.”
The Temple had been in disrepair and neglected for so long. When Josiah came into leadership, he began making reforms, trying to bring Israel back to the glory of the Lord. Upon working in the Temple, the book of the Law was found. Many commentators believe that it was specifically “that part of Deuteronomy (28, 29, 30, and 31), which contains the renewing of the covenant in the plains of Moab, and which contains the most terrible invectives against the corrupters of God’s word and worship.”3 Others believe it was the entire Pentateuch – the first five books of the Old Testament.
Josiah’s reaction of contrition acknowledges that this discovery is something that should never have been lost. Something must be done with it! 2 Kings 22:16-20 says, “Thus saith 
the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: (17) Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. (18) But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; (19) Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. (20) Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.”
As we read God’s Word today, may we make the same declaration made by Josiah in 2 Kings 23:3. “And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.”
1https://cruisesnooze.com/where-the-titanic-sank/#the-exact-location-of-the-titanic-wreck
2https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/september-1/wreck-of-the-titanic-found.
3Clarke, Adam; e-Sword.net module
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