I began a new class today. The homework assignment was: "Study one old testament prophet. What did you learn?" I wanted to find someone I hadn't heard of (which was hard) or someone I had just skimmed over (which was much easier) when reading before. I found Huldah the prophetess. Hold on to your hats ladies... this woman rocked my world!
Huldah had a day job. She was The Keeper of the Wardrobe. Not much is said about whose wardrobe she kept, but this research really brought her out of the closet for me! She lived during the reign of King Josiah who had a heart for God and His law. She also lived at the same time as Zephaniah, Nahum and Jeremiah who were all prominent prophets... and all very connected to the king.
The story goes... One day, the high priest Hilkiah found a scroll while looking for money in The House of The Lord. Don't worry, it was all for a worthy cause. In short, the priest took the scroll to the King, the King read it and tore his clothes in response to what it said. Then the King sent the priest, the secretary of state, the king's servant and two other guys out to "Inquire of The Lord" if the words were indeed true. The band decided to look for a prophet (one who hears from, and speaks for, God) to authenticate the written word.
Let's just stop and look at that for a minute. The priest takes the information to the king for validation. The king gives it back and sends the priest (and a band of prominent men) out to find validation. If the priest and a king can't validate an apparent law that was written on a scroll... where on earth would they go? I think it's interesting where they didn't go. They didn't go to Zephaniah, Nahum or Jeremiah who had already been working with the king on similar issues. Instead, they went to the woman working in some closet as the keeper of the wardrobe.
Ladies, don't ever think that your current task is too menial or that you are too hidden for the God of the universe to use you. Now, back to the story...
Huldah validates the text, says it's from the God of Israel and reassures the king that he's on the right track. The people have provoked God, but Josiah will die in peace. These were all parts I had read before and TOTALLY missed the best parts!... Huldah was the first person ever entrusted to validate a scroll and then declare it to be "The Word of The Lord." Is this not the beginning of the Bible as we know it? After digging further into history, it is said that the place she lived "The Second Quarter" may be in reference to an academy she opened and lived at. If the clues are correct... m-sh-n-h means Second or Repeat. The Mishnah is the study by repetition and is the first major written Oral Torah. This would mean that her school had not only survived, but became the basis of learning for future rabbis. All this from a woman working as The Keeper of the Wardrobe.
My homework, which began as a concentrated effort to learn something new, resulted in opening a part of my identity which has been tucked away safely in a closet. I LOVE discovering powerful women who have not yet uncovered who they truly are. I love digging for the gold in their lives. I get so excited when true value is unearthed and created identity is unleashed. I'm having such a good time, I can't wait for my next homework assignment!
*Notes: For more information on this class, go to http://www.emergingprophets.com
For Huldah's entire story, go to 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34:14-33
For the historical reference, see Assertive Biblical Women by William E. Phipps
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