#79 “Great Intercessors of the Bible”

(Huldah – Muffled or Covered)

(Also Translated: – Wessel)

“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."

(2 Kings 22:16)

The Message (MSG)

What I love about teaching on a specific subject from the bible is that you always find little nuggets which you never know were there or never paid any attention to before. Such is the case of our next Great Intercessor of the Bible, “Huldah.” For one who reads through the bible every year without fail I was surprised to find this female prophet listed among the great intercessor. For one I’ve never ever thought of her as an intercessor, in fact I wasn’t even aware of her presence in the bible. 

Huldah was the wife of Shallum who was the "royal wardrobe keeper” which was a very important position. Much like most women in the Hebrew culture there is not much mention about Huldah until the 22^nd chapter of 2 Kings and again in 2 Chronicles 34. She appears on the scene after the discovery of one of the books of the Law while it was being renovated by order of King Josiah. “King Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He ruled for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. He lived the way God wanted. He kept straight on the path blazed by his ancestor David, not one step to either left or right.” Although Josiah was young he loved the Lord and followed closely the commandments of the Lord, just like David. Many kings which came before him had not followed the commandments of the Lord and had lead the people astray and into idolatry.

While in the course of the work on the Temple there was a discovery made, “The high priest Hilkiah reported to Shaphan the royal secretary, “I’ve just found the Book of God’s Revelation, instructing us in God’s ways. I found it in The Temple!” He gave it to Shaphan and Shaphan read it. Then Shaphan the royal secretary came back to the king and gave him an account of what had gone on: “Your servants have bagged up the money that has been collected for The Temple; they have given it to the foremen to pay The Temple workers.”  Then Shaphan the royal secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” Shaphan proceeded to read it to the king.” (2 Kings 22:8-10)

“When the king heard what was written in the book, God’s Revelation, he ripped his robes in dismay.” King Josiah was horrified by what he heard read for the book of the Law so much so that he tore his robe and wept.  He knew that he needed to consult a prophet of God right away to find out when these things would come to pass. “And then he called for Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the royal secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal aide. He ordered them all: “Go and pray to God for me and for this people—for all Judah! Find out what we must do in response to what is written in this book that has just been found! God’s anger must be burning furiously against us—our ancestors haven’t obeyed a thing written in this book, followed none of the instructions directed to us.” (2 Kings 22:8-10)

Even though King Josiah was young he wasn’t too young to know that when trouble comes upon the people prayer, fasting and seeking the face of God was imperative. It isn’t known just why Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went straight to Huldah the prophetess; because there other prophets however perhaps she was closest to the palace.  Huldah no doubt already knew that the men were coming to inquire on behalf of the King and had already consulted the Lord or had already received instruction for the Lord.  She sends word back to king Josiah, “she said, “God’s word, the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you here that I’m on my way to bring the doom of judgment on this place and this people. Every word written in the book read by the king of Judah will happen. And why, because they’ve deserted Me and taken up with other gods. They’ve made me thoroughly angry by setting up their god-making businesses. My anger is raging white-hot against this place and nobody is going to put it out.” (2 Kings 22:18-20)

The people had sinned against God so long and so severely that the Lord said that no one or nothing would be able to turn His anger away from them, “They’ve made me thoroughly angry by setting up their god-making businesses. My anger is raging white-hot against this place and nobody is going to put it out.”  Can you think of any nation which has sinned so severely that God’s judgment is imminent against them? How often does my heart breaks for America, as I see her moving further and further away for the Laws of God. I pray that she does not get so far away for God that like children of Israel in our lesson; God’s anger, becomes so hot against her that He will not relent or turn away for judgment against her.  Prophetess Huldah had to deliver the judgment just as the Lord spoke however, because of King Josiah she also had an additional message to deliver. 

“And also tell the king of Judah, since he sent you to ask God for direction; tell him this, God’s comment on what he read in the book: ‘Because you took seriously the doom of judgment I spoke against this place and people, and because you responded in humble repentance, tearing your robe in dismay and weeping before me, I’m taking you seriously. God’s word: I’ll take care of you. You’ll have a quiet death and be buried in peace. You won’t be around to see the doom that I’m going to bring upon this place.” this reminds me of the story of Abraham when he was interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah before the Lord. “Lord will you destroy the righteous along with the wicked?” but the report of the Lord was that for the sake of King Josiah, God delayed the judgment of doom until after King Josiah’s reign was over. 

With that King Josiah wasted no time getting things in order, first he assembled all the people for the least to the greatest and read the book of the Law in their hearing. “Then he read out publicly everything written in the Book of the Covenant that was found in The Temple of God. The king stood by the pillar and before God solemnly committed them all to the covenant: to follow God believingly and obediently; to follow his instructions, heart and soul, on what to believe and do; to put into practice the entire covenant, all that was written in the book. The people stood in affirmation; their commitment was unanimous.”

Thanks to Huldah the King know exactly what he needed to do and was able to insure that there was peace all the days of his reign as King of Judah. The people turned and served God as they had promised. Huldah continued helping turn the people hearts back to God as she worked with the women teaching them the word of the Lord.  The Prophetess Huldah was able to stand in the gap for King Josiah and the people delaying the judgment of the Lord.

My Prayer: Father God, as we read your word we are ever reminded that our sins are before us and that our country is in grave need of Your mercy and grace. We pray for America today that she will turn for her sinful way and come back to You. Father God turn the hearts of our nation’s leaders,  who in an effort to appease the people are altering you Law’s giving way to the desires of the flesh. Your word plainly says, “Make no provision for the flesh,” Yet daily we do just that,” yet we do…forgive us Father, heal our land, turn our hearts back to You.  We as this in Jesus’ name pray Amen!!! 

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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