Huldah

2 Kings 22:14-20

So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; she resided in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, where they consulted her. She declared to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me, Thus says the Lord, I will indeed bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. Because they have abandoned me and have made offerings to other gods, so that they have provoked me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the Lord. Therefore, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring on this place.” They took the message back to the king.

Huldah

A woman called by God

to speak truth.

To speak truth when the news is good

To speak truth when no one wants to know.

A woman called to put aside her fear

and speak words that people need to hear.

Huldah

A woman of wisdom

A woman of courage

A woman of God

Prayer

God we thank you for all who have brought your word to light through the ages. May we, today, have the courage to speak truth into every situation and the space to hear your word above all the noise that surrounds us.

The power of the Word

2 Kings 22:11-13

When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and the king’s servant Asaiah, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our ancestors did not obey the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

The word of God

bringing fear and terror

bringing calm and reassurance

Inciting war and division

inciting peace and kindred spirit

Awakening regret and denial

awakening resolve and repentance

Stirring up persecution and hatred

stirring up compassion and love

One word with many facets

One God with many faces

and a countenance filled with sorrow

when the Word of light and hope 

is used to entrench the darkness

it came to dispel.

Prayer

God may we never use your word as a weapon with which to oppress those whom you love. May it always be a source of light, love and hope in all of life.

Advent Sunday - Narrative Lectionary Year 2

2 Kings 22:8
The high priest Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord."

Discovery

is what this season is about.

Discovering 

the unexpected

the unimaginable

the unanticipated

the wonder

the mystery

Discovery

that leads to hope

Discovery

that waiting

brings fulfilment

and the promise of God 

made new

for God's people today.

Prayer
God may we re-discover your law for our lives today. A law that does not judge or condemn or divide but is offered in love for all people. May that law be written anew on our hearts and practised in our living as we reach out to one another, children of One God, cradled in one love.  

Advent in the Narrative Lectionary

In the Narrative Lectionary, the more usual themes of Advent - Hope, Peace, Love and Joy seem more difficult to find.
However, as we spend time with the Old Testament texts, reading of Josiah's reform when the book of Law is discovered, accompanying the people of God as Isaiah portrays them in Exile, labouring with Ezra in the rebuilding of the temple, before moving into the New Testament to hear Zechariah's song, we discover that, though we travel through Advent with a different accompaniment, still there is, in the ancient melody, a recognisable refrain that resolves in an encounter with the God who is hope and peace and love and joy.
Travelling with different texts may allow the familiar story to come alive in new ways, illuminating our world and our lives with the light that came into the world and that cannot be extinguished.

The flame flickers valiantly

glowing softly in the embers of hope 

raging fiercely in the rubble of the bombed out building

bursting into life in the refusal of victims to be incited to hate.

Its tenacity is mirrored in those

who seek not revenge but healing

who long not for justice

but for compassion

and who see God

wounded

and bleeding

yet holding out hope

for the life of the world.

The light

that

the 

darkness

has

never

been

able 

to 

put

out