What would you do if you knew the decisions you made could affect the lives of countless people over multiple generations? How would you verify your  path forward?

Chances are, you would seek the counsel of a wiser person.

That’s exactly what Judah’s King Josiah did when a temple repair project unearthed a forgotten biblical scroll. The scroll terrified and convicted Josiah because it promised judgment to those who defied God’s laws. Was it authentic? Would his kingdom fall under judgment?

God’s Unlikely Mouthpiece

Josiah could have sought the counsel of the prophet Jeremiah, who was not shy about offering it. He could have gone to the prophet Zephaniah. He could have even asked Hilkiah, the high priest whose job it was to mediate between the Lord and His people. 

But Josiah did none of those things. Instead, he sent a fleet of high-ranking representatives—including Hilkiah—to Huldah, one of nine prophetesses mentioned in scripture.

And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken Me and have made offerings 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 will not be quenched.

“But 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 tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before Me and have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. Behold, 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 disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.’” And they brought back word to the king.—2 Chronicles 34:23-28 (ESV)

Huldah did not speak on her own behalf. She spoke on behalf of the Lord and did not cushion the blow. She authenticated the text and pronounced God’s judgment, a punishment that would befall Judah after Josiah’s reign. 

Reform and Fulfillment

God’s warning spoken through Huldah led to reform. The repentant king shared God’s word with the people of Judah. Further, Josiah made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after 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 the book (2 Chronicles 34:31 ESV).

But God judged the people of Judah after Josiah died in battle.

You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.—Deuteronomy 18:21-22 NIV

Huldah’s prophecy proved true. Babylon invaded the land and took the people of Judah into exile. Judgment would surely have come more swiftly if Huldah had not been faithful to speak God’s truth and if Josiah had not heeded God’s warning as spoken through her.

What Huldah Teaches Us

Huldah feared God and not man. She unashamedly used the gifts God gave her for His glory and not her own. As His ambassadors, that is our calling as well.  May we, like Huldah, be found brave, forthright and faithful before the Lord.

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This is Part 3 in a series about biblical women—some named, some not, some honorable, some less so. But all have earned a place in scripture, and all have important lessons to teach us.