I.
This week we turn our focus to the time of the one of Kings of Judah, Josiah, and a prophetess’ words for an inquiring King.
First, take some time with this week’s Scripture and see what you notice in the scene, in Huldah’s words, and in how it strikes you.
You probably want to find some time to read all of 2 Kings 22 to see something of what leads up to this scene in Huldah’s home and what happens after Huldah’ encounter with those sent from the King.
II.
2 Kings 22:14-20
So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; she resided in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, where they consulted her.
She declared to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel:
Tell the man who sent you to me, 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. Because they have abandoned me and have made offerings to other gods, so that they have provoked me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.
But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel:
Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the Lord. Therefore, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring on this place.”
They took the message back to the king.
III.
King Josiah initiated a restoration/rebuilding of the Temple and in the course of that restoration a “book” was discovered. Shaphan (apparently a highly trusted member of the King’s court, maybe the most trusted?) brings this “book” back to the King and reads it to him.
… and …
When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and the king’s servant Asaiah, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our ancestors did not obey the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (2 Kings 22:11-13)
IV.
That brings us to Shaphan and the others going to the prophetess Huldah to “inquire of the Lord.”
Pause here for a moment.
How does it strike you that these men, all important men in Judah, highly placed in the Temple practices and the administration of the kingdom, head off to a prophetess to hear a word from the Lord?
V.
Now consider the words from the Lord Huldah gives to them.
What do you think?
Does the future Huldah speaks of seem fair and right for the nation; for the King?
What should these men do? What should the King do? What should Judah do?
charles
{Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}