Her faith guided and encouraged the king.

 

      Huldah, the Prophetess of Jerusalem

 

“Did you hear the king’s words? He’s asked us to enquire of the Lord.”
 

“Who will pray for us? Shall we consult Shallum’s wife, the prophetess, since the king’s warning is so alarming.”

“Do you mean the wife of the wardrobe keeper?”

 

   “Indeed. Huldah lives in the second quarter, near the temple wall.”

 

In c.637 B.C., a young King Josiah of Judah swept idol worship from his kingdom. For generations, Judah and Israel had worshipped foreign gods. Two hundred years earlier, Athalia (the only queen to reign in Judah) had ordered her sons to remove the Lord’s sacred vessels from Solomon’s temple and dedicate them to Baal. Asherah poles and carved idols littered Jerusalem and the entire countryside. Idol worshippers believed Asherah was the wife of their god, and they erected poles in the temple in her honor.

 

Josiah ascended the throne when he was eight. By his twenty-second year, he worshipped the Lord and wanted to rid the land of idolatry, but four years passed before he could rebuild the temple. He arranged a chest at the temple gate and issued a proclamation for the nation to pay taxes towards its restoration, a tax which originated in the Mosaic law. The king ordered carpenters, builders, and masons to buy timber and dressed stone to repair the building and appointed Shaphan and Maaseiah, the city ruler, with Joah, the chancellor or recorder, to oversee the work.

 

As Hilkiah cleared the temple, he discovered a large and dusty book. Imagine his delight as he opened its pages and read the inscription, ‘The Book of the Law of Moses.’ He hurried to find Shaphan.

 

“Look, Shaphan. Do you see this volume? I’ve discovered Moses’ law. It has been lost in the temple for generations.”

 

“Amazing. I must report the discovery to the king. He will be delighted with the book and very interested in the workers’ progress.”

 

But as Shaphan read the law to Josiah, the king became troubled and tore his clothes in deep distress. The Lord God’s great wrath would descend on them because they had abandoned the Lord for idols or desecrated his holy temple. The king demanded immediate action.

  

“Shaphan, send for Ahikam, your son, Abdon, and my attendant, Asaiah.”

 

The men stood before the king and awaited his orders.

“You must pray to the Lord because our nation is under serious threat of destruction. The Lord God is angry because our fathers have not kept the law or acted according to this book.”   

 

“Yes, your Majesty. We will seek the Lord.”

 

  But how could they seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and save the nation? Who living under a Jerusalem’s corrupt priesthood served the true and living God according to Moses’ law? Perhaps Hilkiah had never learned to pray according to the rites of the priesthood.

 

“There’s a prophetess living in the second quarter near the temple. We must seek her advice.”

 

  Huldah received her guests, Hilkiah the priest and Shaphan, the king’s secretary, at her home. Perhaps she wondered why such important officials had arrived at her door. Her husband held a responsible position in the royal household, but the women of Judah served their families and lived away from the public eye.

 

They explained the king’s dilemma.

 

“What is your request?”

 

“We have found Moses’ law in the temple and our nation faces imminent danger.”

 

“Tell the king the Lord will punish this city and its surrounding districts because the nation has abandoned him and worshipped other gods. However, the king’s humility and repentance will delay the destruction until after his death.”

 

 When they reported her affirmations to the king, he gathered the people, and he read the entire Book of the Covenant, standing by the temple pillar. He ordered the priests to remove the articles to Baal and Asherah from the temple, and to abolish child sacrifice from the Kidron Valley.

 

 Huldah’s faith and bravery changed Judah.

 

 Huldah’s home was near the temple in Jerusalem. Since her husband was the king’s wardrobe attendant, she would have been known in the court. But her identity was bound to her faith rather than her husband’s status.

 

Huldah spoke the Lord’s words from her heart. A humble, God fearing woman, she knew the value of sincere repentance and could reveal God’s mercy to her monarch.

 

In the Old City of Jerusalem, you can still see two gates leading to the Jerusalem temple, now enclosed, named in her honor.

 

   Huldah confirmed King Josiah’s faith, and he became Judah’s most godly king, who served the Lord with all his heart, soul, and strength. We may feel insignificant or live in the shadow of our families, but we may serve our God, as did Huldah. Speak up for Jesus. ‘Timely advice is as lovely as gold apples in a silver basket.’ Proverbs 25:11.

                 You can read this account in 2 Kings 22:14-20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22-28.

But what parallels exist between this ancient world and ours?

 

In a contemporary society which values tolerance over veracity, individuals perceive all religions as equivalent. If I believe Jesus is the only way, the truth, and the life to eternal life, society labels me a religious nut and a bigot.

 

But Jesus’ words are as relevant as when he uttered them. He offers hope and eternal life to everyone because he is alive. Over five hundred witnesses saw Jesus Christ after his resurrection. Buddha and Mohammad’s writings survive, but these men have passed into eternity.

 

Like ancient Judah, modern society has become pagan and forgotten much of its Christian heritage. The gods of materialism and ancient philosophies attract more favor than Christ while believers in Jesus are suffering persecution under ruthless governments, and in the West, persecution is knocking on our doors. Yet, if we shrink from derision, our natural human response, we forget our Lord suffered persecution on the cross to bear our sin.  

 

He warned us to expect trouble. Let’s follow Huldah’s brave example and represent the Lord Jesus Christ by offering the world the Bible’s message of forgiveness and salvation.

 

Is the Bible your constant companion? Do you read it every day? Does it penetrate your thoughts as you read or hear the news? Can you speak with confidence for God because you know your Bible? It was the Pentateuch writings which led Josiah to repent and restore his nation to God.

And if you have wandered away from Jesus, he invites you to return. Let him forgive your past mistakes and ask him to be your most valuable Savior and Friend. Once he has entered your life, he will stay with you forever.

 

© Janet Crawshaw 2023