The subject of hidden treasure is fascinating; it has prompted numerous books, movies, theories and actual treasure hunting expeditions.  Two of the most popular hidden treasures are:

1. The Knights Templar Treasure
2. Captain Kidd’s Buried Treasure

The Knights Templar’s have been surrounded by a shroud of mystery for years.  They were founded in 1118 during the Crusades state of Jerusalem by a French Knight by the name of Hugues De Payne.  De Payne started the order with eight fellow Knights.  They were quartered at the Temple Mount by King Baldwin II.  The original function of the Knights Templar was to protect pilgrims as they traveled the dangerous road from the Port of Jaffa to Jerusalem.  They were the most formidable fighting force in “Christendom”, and they also possessed immense wealth and political power.

On October 13, 1307 (Friday the 13th) the King of France, Phillip the Fair, along with the Pope, Clement V conspired to destroy the Templars.  Theories for their reasoning abounds; however, three stand out:

1. To confiscate the Templar’s wealth
   1. which disappeared at the same time
2. The Templar’s were accused of being involved in Witchcraft and other heresies
3. Their last Grand Master, Jacques DeMolay, refused to unite his forces with the Kings.

The treasure has never been found and has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories, books, and movies, such as the National Treasure franchise of movies.

Next, we have the buried treasure of Captain Kidd.  The idea of buried treasure is closely related to Pirate Lore, largely due to the success of the book “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson.  His book introduced such ideas as:

1. Buried Treasure
2. Treasure Maps
3. “X” Marks the Spot

William “Captain” Kidd is one of the few recorded instances of a Pirate who did bury his treasure.  Captain Kidd was a Privateer turned Pirate, Privateer’s were legal pirates that were issued authority to capture and loot enemy ships.  He made his maiden voyage in 1695 on the Adventure Galley, which was a formidable warship; however, almost immediately upon launching from the port he was stopped by the Royal Navy, and the majority of his crew (honest, reputable men) were pressed to join the Navy.  Kidd was forced to sail with a skeleton crew until he could get to the next port to hire additional crew members.  He was able to do so; however, the new members were not of the same caliber as the members that he had lost to the Navy, they were mostly criminals and past Pirates.  This created a constant struggle between Kidd and his crew.  Kidd was determined only to attack the ships that he had authority. Meanwhile, his crew grew tired of watching what they considered to be fortunes just sailing past them.  At one point Kidd narrowly escaped a mutiny, by hitting the instigator over the head with a water bucket, which caused the man’s death.

Finally, in 1698 a legitimate ship was in his sights, it was the Quedagh Merchant, and it was loaded with enough loot to make Kidd and his crew very rich.  Unfortunately, for Kidd, the legitimacy of his authority to take this ship was put into question. The Quedagh was sailing under the French flag (an authorized victim); however, it was carrying Indian cargo and had an English Captain, neither of which was he authorized to take.

Kidd felt that he would be protected by his money and the document that he had which gave him his authority, So Kidd surrendered to Governor Bellomont in Boston.  Bellomont confiscated Kidd’s documents which mysteriously disappeared and did not surface again until the late 1990’s.  Kidd was convicted of Piracy and sentenced to Hang.  From his jail cell, Kidd promised to lead Bellomont to his buried treasure.  Kidd was hanged; however, Bellomont was able to locate Kidd’s primary cache of buried treasure on Gardiners Island.  They found £20,000 buried, but Kidd claimed to have buried £30,000; therefore the search continues.

I was introduced to a method of “treasure hunting’ by my Dad.  The hobby of Gold Prospecting.  There are four basic steps to Gold prospecting, and they can also be applied to Bible Study:

1. Look in the right place
   1. King James Bible
2. Remove what doesn’t belong or fit
   1. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  -2 Timothy 2:15
3. Continuously sift the material
   1. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. – Psalms 1:2
4. Expose the hidden treasure

We find a very important If/Then statement from the Lord in Proverbs 2:1-9

If you will receive Gods word by:

1. Hiding his commandments (in your heart Psalms 119:11)
2. Inclining your ear to wisdom
3. Applying your heart to understand
4. Crying after knowledge
5. Seeking it as a hid treasure

Then you will understand the Fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God, which will enable you to understand Righteousness, Judgment, Equity and Every good path.  Let’s compare this last list with 2 Timothy 3:16.  In 2 Timothy 3:16  we see that all scripture is profitable for four things:

1. Doctrine
2. Reproof
3. Correction
4. Instruction in Righteousness

Once you know where to look for hidden treasure (Gods Word) next, you need to allow God to reveal those treasures to you.  The Four Incredible Hidden Treasures are found in Psalms 19:7-11.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

In Psalms 19:7  we see that The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.  This is our first Hidden Treasure: Doctrine:  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. – Galatians 3:24.  We get the doctrine that is necessary to convert the Soul from the Apostle Paul..Paul’s gospel is defined in Galatians 1:11-17 as being a doctrine that he received from the Lord Jesus Christ and he tells us exactly what the Gospel is in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.  He declared to us what the Gospel is (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ), and he tells us that it is by this Gospel that we are saved.

The next Treasure is also found in Psalms 19:7, The Testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The second Hidden Treasure is Reproof: Ephesians 5:8-16 tells us that we need to stop walking and acting like the rest of the world, and instead need to walk circumspectly (cautiously) not as fools but as wise.  We are rebuked that once we come to saving faith and knowledge in the Lord Jesus Christ, there should be a change in the way that we conduct our lives.

In Psalms 19:8  we see that The Statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.  The third Hidden Treasure is Correction: This is how to react to the reproof that we have just received.  There are rules for righteous living, and these are commonly referred to as Good Works.  Now we know that we are not saved by doing good works (Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7), but after we have come to salvation, we are to walk in good works.  The very passage that most people run to in order to show that we are not saved by doing good works (and we are not, it only by his mercy and grace) continues in Ephesians 2:10 to say that we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  As we also see in Titus 2:11-14 and Titus 3:8.  Living right is the thing that rejoices our heart.

Finally, we see in Psalms 19:8 that The Commandment of the Lord is Pure, enlightening the eyes and the Judgements of the Lord are true and righteous.  This brings us to Hidden Treasure number four, Instruction in Righteousness:  This instruction is what provides the light for our path, this is the only way we can know what the right way is, this light will show us what decisions to make in our daily lives. See Psalms 119:9, 119:105 and 119:130.

The “they” being spoken of in Psalms 19:10 are the Four Hidden Treasures that we just exposed.  They are to be desired more that Gold, the most valuable substance. They are also sweeter to your Soul than Honey, The sweetest natural substance.

Have you searched the Scriptures with as much effort as you would put into searching for Hidden Treasure?  As much effort as you put into your Job, Family, Hobbies or anything else?

The Scriptures are more profitable than any of these other things could ever hope to be.  The Scriptures are profitable for Doctrine, Reproof, Correction, and Instruction in Righteousness.  They are only hidden if you don’t look!