2 Maccabees 2:1-12: a reflection

1It is also found in the records that Jeremiah the prophet commanded those who were carried away to take some of the fire, as has been mentioned, 2and how that the prophet charged those who were carried away, having given them the law, that they should not forget the statutes of the Lord or be led astray in their minds when they saw images of gold and silver, and their adornment. 3With other such words he exhorted them, that the law should not depart from their hearts. 4It was in the writing that the prophet, being warned by God, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should follow with him, when he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and saw God’s inheritance. 5Jeremiah came and found a cave, he brought the tabernacle, the ark, and the altar of incense into it; then he sealed the entrance. 6Some of those who followed with him came there that they might mark the way, and could not find it. 7But when Jeremiah learned about that, he rebuked them, saying, “The place shall be unknown until God gathers the people together again and shows mercy. 8Then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord shall be seen with the cloud, as it was also shown to Moses, also as Solomon implored that the place might be consecrated greatly, 9and it was also declared that he, having wisdom, offered a sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple. 10As Moses prayed to the Lord and fire came down out of heaven and consumed the sacrifice, even so Solomon also prayed, and the fire came down and consumed the burnt offerings. 11Moses said, ‘Because the sin offering had not been eaten, it was consumed in like manner.’ 12Likewise Solomon kept the eight days.”

This passage tells how the prophet Jeremiah, before the exile, hid away the tabernacle, the ark, and the altar in a cave, and declared that the place would remain unknown until God's appointed time of gathering and mercy. The place shall be unknown, Jeremiah said, until God gathers the people together again and shows mercy. Then the Lord will disclose these things. Jeremiah hid these sacred things and sealed the place, and it could not be found; and he explained that this was not a loss but a hiding for a time, until God's appointed time of restoration, when he would disclose them and show his glory. Some things are hidden by God for a time, until his appointed time of mercy. This shows that God hides some things for a time, until his appointed time of restoration and mercy. Some things are hidden by God until his appointed time. What God hides for a season, he will disclose at his time of mercy. God's hiding of a thing is not its loss, but for a time. Trust God's timing for what he has hidden for a season.

Notice Jeremiah's explanation of the hidden sacred things. The tabernacle, the ark, the altar, precious and sacred things, were hidden away in a cave, sealed up, and could not be found. This might have seemed a loss, a grievous disappearance of what was holy. But Jeremiah explained that it was not a permanent loss; the place would be unknown only until God's appointed time, when he would gather his people again and show mercy, and then disclose these things and show his glory. What was hidden was hidden for a season, held in reserve until God's time of restoration. This reflects a pattern in God's ways that can steady us. There are things that God hides for a time, that seem lost or absent, that we cannot find or understand: purposes not yet disclosed, blessings not yet given, understanding not yet granted, restorations not yet come. It can seem a loss, a grievous absence. But God's hiding of a thing is often not its permanent loss, but a holding of it in reserve until his appointed time. What he has hidden for a season, he will disclose in his time of mercy and restoration. We can trust God's timing with what seems hidden or lost, believing that his appointed time of disclosure and mercy will come. What God hides for a season, he will disclose at his appointed time. God's hiding of a thing is not its permanent loss. Trust God's timing with what seems hidden, lost, or absent. God holds some things in reserve until his time of mercy.

That is worth resting in, for God hides some things for a time, until his appointed time of restoration and mercy, so that what seems lost or absent may be held in reserve rather than gone for good. We can grieve over what seems hidden, lost, or absent, purposes not disclosed, blessings not given, restorations not come; but Jeremiah explained that the hidden sacred things were not lost but held until God's appointed time of gathering and mercy. God's hiding is for a season. When something seems hidden or lost, trust God's timing, believing his appointed time of disclosure and mercy will come. Trust God's timing with what seems hidden, lost, or absent, believing that what he hides for a season he will disclose at his appointed time of mercy, as Jeremiah, before the exile, hid away the tabernacle, the ark, and the altar in a cave and declared that the place would remain unknown until God gathered the people together again and showed mercy, when he would disclose these things and show his glory; for Jeremiah hid these sacred things and sealed the place so that it could not be found, which might have seemed a grievous loss of what was holy, but he explained that it was not a permanent loss, only a hiding for a season, held in reserve until God's appointed time of restoration, which reflects a pattern in God's ways that can steady us, since there are things God hides for a time that seem lost or absent, purposes not yet disclosed, blessings not yet given, understanding not yet granted, restorations not yet come, and it can seem a loss, but God's hiding of a thing is often not its permanent loss but a holding of it in reserve until his appointed time, so that what he has hidden for a season he will disclose in his time of mercy and restoration, and we can trust God's timing with what seems hidden or lost, believing that his appointed time of disclosure and mercy will come.

Lord, this passage tells how the prophet Jeremiah, before the exile, hid away the tabernacle, the ark, and the altar in a cave, and declared that the place would remain unknown until your appointed time of gathering and mercy. The place shall be unknown, Jeremiah said, until God gathers the people together again and shows mercy. Then the Lord will disclose these things. Jeremiah hid these sacred things and sealed the place, and it could not be found; and he explained that this was not a loss but a hiding for a time, until your appointed time of restoration, when you would disclose them and show your glory. Some things are hidden by you for a time, until your appointed time of mercy. Show me Jeremiah's explanation of the hidden sacred things. The precious and sacred things were hidden away, sealed up, and could not be found. This might have seemed a grievous loss. But Jeremiah explained that it was not a permanent loss; the place would be unknown only until your appointed time, when you would gather your people again and show mercy, and then disclose these things. What was hidden was hidden for a season, held in reserve until your time of restoration. This reflects a pattern in your ways that can steady me. There are things you hide for a time, that seem lost or absent, that I cannot find or understand: purposes not yet disclosed, blessings not yet given, restorations not yet come. It can seem a loss. But your hiding of a thing is often not its permanent loss, but a holding of it in reserve until your appointed time. Take that to my heart, for you hide some things for a time, until your appointed time of restoration and mercy. When something seems hidden, lost, or absent, keep me from grieving as though it were gone for good; help me trust your timing, Lord, believing that what you hide for a season you will disclose at your appointed time of mercy, holding it in reserve until then.