I recently re-watched the Librarians. The Librarians continues the story of the Library from The Librarian movie trilogy (Quest for the Spear, Return to King Solomon’s Mines, Curse of the Judas Chalice). In this the Library adds three more Librarians: Cassandra a synesthesia/tumor patient who is an expert in math, science and learns to be an expert in magic. Jacob, who has worked in oil pipelines all his life but is secretly an expert in art, literature and architecture. And finally, Ezekiel who is a master thief. They are at some point referred to as L.I.T.s (Librarian in Training). Thus we find the moniker of the fan base. We also get a new guardian: Col. Eve Baird from the NATO anti-terrorism unit. Their job is to keep magic in check and keep magical items safely out of the wrong hands.
Flynn Carson is still the Librarian but he often goes off on his own and leaves the others to focus on other issues.
Spoilers ahead.
In one episode we find the team trapped in a world without the library. Music is almost non-existent, food is boring, everything is white or beige, and everyone works for “The Company”. This happens because everyone who works for the Library has either died or has left the Library in grief. Somehow this means the Library never existed…except in the rare memories of those who used to work there. As the episode goes on the memories are more elusive.
We are told in scripture to consistently build and encourage our memories of what Christ has done for us. The first inkling of this is in Genesis. Whenever something big happens they build memorials, called “ebenezers”, in the locations of the events. You might recognize the word “ebenezer” from the hymn “O Fount of Every Blessing.” These were essentially stone piles built to mark a location of some amazing or extraordinary event that includes God showing up and bringing an historic meeting or victory.
The Book of Deuteronomy uses the word “remember” about 15 times. This book was a speech that Moses gave the Israelites to remind them of the expectations of God and their experiences with Him. Throughout the Old Testament the word appears about 169 times. The following is just one example.
Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
Deuteronomy 8:2
The concept of testing us was not so much “what do you know” as “here, build this attitude”. Testing was less about determining what you know and more about developing more understanding in your heart and mind. We are told here to remember the lessons God gave us. It is also important to remember God’s presence, which is marked in the phrase “God led you…”. His presence was especially available evident in the tabernacle at the center of their camp. During the craziness of the wandering there was always a column above the tabernacle. During the day it was a cloud that kept them cool from the heat and during the night it was always fire which provided both light and heat.
What are the lessons you have learned from God? What tests has He used to mold you, shape you, mentor you? Have you shared this with anyone? Written about it?
As the story develops, Eve works to bring all the Librarians back together. As they meet each other for the “first” time (in this reality) they start to remember not just each other, but the Library. They remember their skills, and eventually they bring the Library back and reset reality. Life comes back to normal color as the Library physically reasserts itself around them.
In the New Testament Paul tells us to “speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19). Jesus told us that whenever 2 or more of us are gathered His presence is there with us (Matthew 18:20). There is something about coming together to share our stories of God and remind each other of His promises and expectations that changes us.
Do you need to bring your team back together? To remind each other? To pull each other out of humdrum and back into the vibrant Kingdom of God?
If you enjoyed this blog post, you can find another devotional based on an episode of The Librarians in The New 42: God Terraforms All Things.