Being a Huldah

Huldah is a prophetess who lived in Jerusalem at the time of King Josiah in Old Testament times. Josiah was one of only a few God-fearing kings in Judah. At this time of history, the high priest had discovered the Book of the Law, written by Moses, which had been lost for many years.

King Josiah asks his leaders to go inquire of the Lord for himself and his people. Josiah knows the Lord is angry for His people turning away from Him. The king wants God’s guidance for himself and the people he governs. The king’s advisors seek out Huldah, a prophetess.

The message Huldah gives the king’s men is harsh: Because God’s people had forsaken Him and were worshipping idols, He will send disaster to this place and to these people. But God

has a further message for Josiah. Through Huldah, Josiah learns the following:

“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what He spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before Me and tore your robes and wept in My presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace, your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.” (2 Chronicles 34:27-28 NIV)

Josiah would not see the disaster in his lifetime because he had honoured the Lord. He ends up doing much during his reign to rid his people of idols and to direct them to the One True God. Huldah’s words have an immense impact on Josiah as he makes a covenant with God and his people to walk with the Lord and keep His commandments.

It is interesting that when the king’s advisors found the Book of the Law that they turned to a woman to help them gain clarity of what is written there. For them to seek her out, they must have realized that Huldah walks closely with God and has a greater understanding of Him and His ways. She is likely a woman of prayer, who devoted herself to God.

It took great courage for her to share these prophetic words with King Josiah. She allows herself to be used by God for His great purpose. Huldah’s willingness to speak up, changes the lives of many around her. She is simply a messenger, who has no authority of her own; but the message she shares is once of immense power and authority.

Huldah shows us the importance of staying close to our Lord and being willing to be His instrument wherever He has need of us. She lived in times much like our own today – where God’s Word and His ways seem to have less and less of an activity place in society.

Huldah makes a bold choice to be close to the Lord and follow His ways, no matter what is going on in the world around her. She can inspire us to the same.

I hope and pray we can all be a Huldah today – strong in the faith, with the courage to speak up for that faith when necessary.

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