Huldah

A short study of a remarkable lady

Huldah the prophetess lived in the days of Josiah, king of Judah. It was the happy twilight in Judah's history before its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar. Josiah, at the age of 8, decided to remove the pagan gods, the Baal, with all their priests and sacrifices. He ordered the restoration of the Temple that Solomon built. As the rubbish was removed some ancient scrolls were discovered. Shaphan, the court secretary read them to Josiah who was alarmed at what he heard. Unless there was spiritual repentance and reformation according to Moses' Law, Judah would follow Israel to destruction.

Without hesitation he sent the High Priest, Hilkiah, to enquire of Yahweh, their God, what they should do. The religious leaders went not to the young Jeremiah but to Huldah, the prophetess, who was also wife of Shallum, who was responsible for the court robes. She was a genuine prophetess, in the line of prophets through whom God had spoken to Israel from the days of Samuel. She told Hilkiah of the ultimate tragedy of Judah but because of the devout young King Josiah, it would not come till he slept with his fathers. It is a wonderful message in which God is ready to forgive those who truly repent and determine to worship and serve Him.

Huldah was no longer young and she had lived through the reign of one of Judah's worst kings, Manasseh. Against all the wickedness and religious malpractice in the worship of Baal, this woman had kept alive the true faith. She recognised the Word of the LORD as soon as she saw it and she spoke by the power of the Holy Spirit, communicating God's message. Did she have any hand in the education in righteousness of the young king. However that may be, Judah had been given a temporary respite from God's wrath. Huldah "seems to have been of some repute and held in some respect. Her words leave us in no doubt as to the forthrightness of her allegiance to the God of Israel." ‑ (AOH ‑ BSM - 1955)

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