Huldah

Day 1

Her name means “weasel”

Her Character : Trusted by the king with a matter of great importance, she was a prophetess whose word generated a significant religious reform.

Her Sorrow: That God’s people refused to respond to him with loving obedience, ignoring repeated warnings about the consequences of their unfaithfulness.

Her Joy: As a prophetess, she was privileged to be a messenger of God.

Key Scriptures-
2 Kings 22:14 - 20
14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. 15 Then she said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 16 “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read— 17 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’”’ 18 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— 19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the LORD. 20 “Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.”’” So they brought back word to the king.

2 Chronicles 34:22-33
22 So Hilkiah and those the king had appointed went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath,the son of Hasrah,keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke to her to that effect.23 Then she answered them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 24 “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah, 25 because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place, and not be quenched.’”’ 26 But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— 27 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the LORD. 28 “Surely I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.”’” So they brought back word to the king.
Josiah Restores True Worship
29 Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30 The king went up to the house of the LORD, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests and the Levites, and all the people, great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD. 31 Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book. 32 And he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33 Thus Josiah removed all the abominations from all the country that belonged to the children of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel diligently serve the LORD their God. All his days they did not depart from following the LORD God of their fathers.

Day 2

As a woman, it is sometimes hard to know where and when it is our place to talk. That is a strong statement, huh. Well, it is true and has been since the beginning of time. Somehow, some of us do it when maybe we shouldn’t and other do it when we don’t want to and others do it because we have to. Huldah was obedient to her God first and foremost. I know I have spoken in all of the above 3 circumstances. I have said things that I wish I had never said and things that I didn’t have to say because I knew it would be hard for the listener to hear and I have said things because I had to in order to be obedient.

Judgment, mercy, law and grace, punishment and salvation- these are the tensions that characterize the story of God’s love affair with his people. Huldah was a woman who understood the paradox and who was not afraid to proclaim the truth, even to a king. Her words must have cost her, but she spoke them anyway. She cherished God’s Word in a time of spiritual crisis.

Think of the three examples above. Have there been times when you were in similar situations. Was there ever a time when you spoke to defend God and His Word? Are there times you can defend His word in the future. Make a commitment to God to be more careful with your words. We should all strive to speak when it will build others up, not when it is just to prove us right and prove a point. It should honor God at all times. Our words can be a negative influence on others. The Bible shows us many examples of people hearing word that must have been hard to receive, but equally hard to give. It also shows us example of those who spoke even though they knew the consequences of what they were speaking in order to glorify God.

An example comes to mind when Jesus was asked if he were a king. He may have hesitated a moment, not as long as I would have, but he answered according to the knowledge he had, and that is all we can do and must do to continue to show God to everyone.

Lord, I hope you make this devo make more sense than I have. I know that the times I go off a bit from the book I find it more difficult to articulate what I am wanting to say. Lord, I know also that there have been many opportunities that I could have been silent in a situation and instead I have made things worse, I have had to say things that were hard for others to hear, but needed to hear. I ask that you continue to give me the wisdom to speak to build others up, to always be willing to be used by you in my words and actions. I ask that you continue to put people in our lives to speak wisdom to us, sometimes hard to swallow, but always just the right amount to keep us moving forward. Help us also to always speak up when given the opportunity concerning you and your Word. May we never allow the consequences to stop us from sharing your word with others.


Day 3

Ancient writers have recorded their thoughts and information on clay tablets. Hundreds of thousands of these tablets have been found and have yet to be read. This only being about 1% of the number of tablets in existence. Later, the writers recorded on scrolls. Made from sheets of papyrus reed, they were glued together to make one long sheet then rolled on wooden dowels. Men and boys would read them from top to bottom, girls were seldom taught to read. Later still, the skin of clean animals was used to form a parchment paper in which the Scriptures were written on. The skin would be treated then sewn together. The Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1947 were ten inches wide and twenty-four feet long. Consisting of several pieces of skin in varying sizes. A copy of the book of Isaiah was found among several others. It was not until the second century A.D. that books were developed. The original copies of the Old and New Testaments no longer exist because of the elements in which they were exposed to. Several of the pages were probably used so often they were not preserved and during eras of persecution, many were destroyed. The Book of the Law discovered in the temple during Josiah’s day was probably made from Papyrus. Many speculate that the entire Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy) was contained in this book, others say it was only the book of Deuteronomy. Many say it had to include at least the curses of Leviticus 26 or Deuteronomy 28 from the reaction that Josiah gave. Huldah made sure to emphasize the words of judgment Josiah had already read from the Book of the Law. Showing how God had faithfully and wonderfully demonstrated his divine judgment as well as his divine willingness to forgive.

Judah had followed false gods for many years. What do you think made Josiah receptive to God and this reading of his law?

Think of a time when you were sorry for your past or for something you had done. How did you pray? How did you feel?

Describe what you think Huldah might have been like; her person, her character, her relationship with God (22:14)

What about your description of Huldah would you like to be true of you? What can you do to develop that part of your character?

Why was God so angry with his people? What was he planning to do?
What has our nation done that deserves God’s judgment?

What was God’s specific word to Josiah? Why was God’s response to Josiah different from his response to the people?

What have you done that deserves God’s judgment? Do you think God’s response to you will be like his response to Josiah or the the people? What will make the difference?

Day 4

When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes…. “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found.” - 2 Chronicles 34:19,21

Reflect on: 2 Chronicles 34:14-33

Praise God: For Speaking clearly about what he expects from us.

Offer Thanks: That he gave us his Word in the Bible.

Confess: Any complacency in the face of God’s commandments.

Ask God: For the grace to take his Word seriously so that you understand the connection between love and obedience.