Huldah: The Prophetic Bride of Christ
By Rev.
Lonnie C. Crowe
Several
biblical symbols represent the church. Among them is the church's calling as
the holy, radiant, spotless Bride of Christ, the Lamb of God. Many times women
in scripture picture the attributes of the church as that Bride. Such is the history of Huldah.
We read
the context of her story in 2 Chronicles 34.
Huldah the prophetess lived in Jerusalem during the reign of King
Josiah, who was one of only a few God honoring kings of Judah. He took action against the pagan worship in
Judah. However, during this time, the
Torah, the Book of the Law, had been hidden and forgotten for many years. The
high priest, Hilkiah, found a copy and brought it to King Josiah.
When the
scroll was read, King Josiah realized the depth of Judah’s apostasy and the
circumstances of that apostasy. In grief and repentance, the king tore his
clothing. With a broken spirit, he
called Hilkiah and other officers of the court. He sent his advisers to Huldah
the prophetess, asking for a word from the Lord.
2 Chronicles 34:22-28: “And Hilkiah, and
those of the king, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son
of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the robes. (And she lived in
Jerusalem in the second part.) And they spoke to her about
this. And she answered them, So says Jehovah, the God of Israel, Tell the
man who sent you to me, So says Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil on this
place and upon its people, all the curses that are written in the Book which
they have read before the king of Judah, because they have forsaken Me,
and have burned incense to other gods, so that they might provoke Me to anger
with all the works of their hands. And My wrath shall be poured out on this
place and shall not be quenched. And as for the king of Judah, who sent
you to inquire of Jehovah, so shall you say to him, So says Jehovah, the God of
Israel whose words you have heard, Because your heart was tender
and you humbled yourself before your God when you heard His words against this
place and against its people, and humbled yourself before Me, and tore your
garments and wept before Me, I have even heard also, says Jehovah. Behold,
I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in
peace, nor shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on this place
and upon its people. And they brought the king word again.”
Huldah the prophetess gave the king’s men a message from God: disaster would
strike the nation because they had forgotten God and instead had worshiped
idols . But God had a different message for Josiah. Despite the absence of the
Law, King Josiah had honored God by getting rid of idol worship in Judah and
Jerusalem. While Josiah’s actions were admirable, it was his humility and repentance
that brought God’s blessing into his life.
As a result of Josiah’s grieving over the wickedness of the people of
Judah, the destruction of Judah would not occur during Josiah’s lifetime. Josiah
repented, but the people of Judah did not.
We are to
be the Huldahs of hope in our world. Our humble, obedient spirits bring peace and
refreshing into our lives.
When we
walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.