Why were the Temple Gates at the southern steps named after Huldah, the Prophetess? Who was Huldah, the prophetess??? I can not recall ever hearing about a prophetess named Huldah and I have been in Sunday School and church since I was two years old! (Fortunately, or just maybe it was the Holy Spirit who prompted me to snap this photo of the name of the gate while we toured the Holy City, knowing that someday in the future I would be in a Bible Study learning about Huldah, the Prophetess.)
Turns out, it is an exciting story--especially for women! 2 Kings 22:14-20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22-28 tells us that when King Josiah had the temple repaired, "the priest Hilkiah found the book of the law of the LORD written by the hand of Moses." Can you imagine?! A book written by the hand of Moses had been lost in the temple for years and years and workmen repairing the temple had discovered it when they brought out the silver that had been deposited in the LORD'S temple! What a discovery!It's like cleaning your grandparent's attic and finding an original Monet or Van Gogh painting hidden among all the family heirlooms. Only better...because it was the instruction of the Lord given by Yehovah to Moses when He spoke to Moses mouth to mouth on Mt. Sinai. In Psalm 19:7-11, King David had this to say about the instructions of the LORD:
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"The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one's life;
the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
The Precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad;
the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold----than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey dripping fro a honeycomb.
In addition, your servant is warned by them,
and in keeping them there is an abundant reward."
But what does that have to do with Huldah, the Prophetess, you ask? It only diverted a nation from disaster--that's all!
You see, the Priest gave the book to the royal scribe, Shaphan, who took it to King Josiah and said, "The priest Hilkiah has given me a book," and Shaphan read it in the presence
of the king. (2 Kings 22:10) The scriptures record that when King Josiah heard the instructions Yehovah God had given Moses and he realized his country had not been keeping those teachings that God had commanded them, he tore his clothes and commanded the priests to inquire of the LORD about the book--"For great is the LORD'S wrath that is kindled against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book in order to do everything written about us." (verse 13).
Thank God for a wise king! (and he was only 26 years old at the time)
Here comes the cool part! "The priests went to the prophetess Huldah, wife of Shallum som of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second District. They spoke with her." (verse 14)
Amazing! Turns out, in a world where women were thought of as one of her husband's possessions, and her role was to tend the flocks, cook the meals, spin the cloth and work the fields, Huldah the Prophetess headed an academy in Jerusalem and, according to the Talmud (Middot 1:3), the temple's Huldah Gate formerly led to the schoolhouse!
Thank Yehovah for Huldah. She had a word from the LORD for them! Huldah courageously spoke what God told her: "This is what the LORD says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants, fulfilling all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read, because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods in order to anger me with all the work of their hands."
King Josiah was wise and listened to Huldah. (I wonder if he had sat in one of her classes when he was growing up.Thank You, Father, for our wise teachers who listen to You and patiently teach our children Truth!) King Josiah humbled himself and repented and led his country into a revival that restored the Torah--the teachings of the LORD. And the fulfillment of the prophecy was postponed!
Can you guess who and what I am teaching the children about in our Kingdom Kids?
Unfortunately, as I was growing up, churches in our nation emphasized New Testament writings over the Old Testament teachings and many people do not have the blessings that King David spoke about in Psalm 19.
We didn't understand or we didn't heed Jesus' words in Matthew 5:17-19:
"Don't think that I came to abolish the Law (Old Testament teachings) or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Consequently, our nation has become a lawless nation as evidenced by the horrendous crimes that take place in our cities, churches, schools and homes every day. We need another Josiah Reformation where we humble ourselves, repent and obey God's word.
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