Huldah: Housewife & Mouthpiece of God



Huldah.

Not a very "high profile" biblical woman. Not a name you hear every day, or even every year, even if you are a very active church member. Not a woman who would stand out in your mind, even if you've read the Bible through many times before.

But what an example she is for each of us!

This woman, briefly mentioned in 2 Chronicles 34 & 35, was used to turn a nation back to God after years of idolatry and evil had all but erased Israel's relationship with YHWH. Here's how she's introduced-- the King's advisors go to "Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum" and begin telling her about King Josiah's desire to follow the laws of God.

She wasn't, as far as is biblically recorded, a prophetess in the usual sense we think of it: as a God-endorsed and fully accurate weather forecaster of far-future events. No, she simply was a mouthpiece of God. She had HIS words in her heart, ready to speak to powerful men. Her words gave a King confirmation of his need to follow God, and because of her words, her generation lived at peace with God.

Though she was a prophetess, she did not live in exile as many prophets of those days had to do, but as Gien Karssen points out in Her Name is Woman, Book 2, "she was a housewife". Like me and maybe you, she was simply an ordinary women with ordinary daily tasks. She wasn't a queen or woman of significance, and she isn't regularly held up as an example for us. She cared for her husband and ran a household, but in the midst of these ordinary tasks, she carried out God's calling on her life. God Himself spoke through her, and because she KNEW the Words of God, "she could freely exhort and encourage other people with it."

We, too, should be women who know God's Word and can freely speak when given the opportunity. All too often, because we have neglected the Word and have not given it its proper place and authority in our lives, when the opportunity comes to speak, we either hesitate and say nothing or we give human wisdom, derived from Oprah, Dr. Phil, or the latest marriage/parenting book we've read.

Instead, we should be women who, like Huldah, speak the Word of God without hesitation anytime we have the opportunity. And with that, I need to get into the Word this afternoon. :)

14 comments:

Kim said...

I have never heard of her! I need to go looking for her today!

Mrs. Anna T said...

"All too often, because we have neglected the Word and have not it its proper place in our lives, when the opportunity comes to speak, we either hesitate and say nothing or we give human wisdom, derived from Oprah, Dr. Phil, or the latest marriage/parenting book we've read."

Jess, you really hit the nail on the head here!

K said...

I have never heard of her either. I'm going to have to look her up.
Kelly

Michelle Maddocks said...

I've just been talking with some friends about what it means to prophesy today - to be the mouthpiece of God. I think this article really speaks to that. Thank you for the research and thoughts. :)

Amy said...

Beautifully said!

mere said...

I just tried to find this in 2 Corinthians, but found it in 2 Chronicles instead, for anyone else who would like to read about Huldah. Thanks for pointing us in her direction, Jess!

mere

Misty said...

I absolutely love it when believers choose to dig deep into the Bible... this was wonderful, and you are right- what an example! In a certain situation lately (or several clusters surrounding a situation) I have been praying for God to use me as his "mouthpiece", so to speak. Several things you mentioned really hit home for me. Thank you!

Rebekah said...

Very challenging and convicting. I am guilty of not speaking the truth when I have the chance. My prayer is that I don't just think about this, but that I put it into practice. Great post!
Thanks,
Rebekah

Brenda said...

Jess, did you mean 2 Chronicles?

"All too often, because we have neglected the Word and have not it its proper place in our lives, when the opportunity comes to speak, we either hesitate and say nothing or we give human wisdom, derived from Oprah, Dr. Phil, or the latest marriage/parenting book we've read."
Oh A--MEN!!!
I can't tell you how many times I've sat in a class or Bible study and suddenly realized we were all beginning our sentences with "I think..." or "I heard once..." We need to crack those Bibles open!

Christie said...

What an encouragement! God is good to give us wives and moms such a real example!

Christie said...

Yes! I am thankful that you vocalize the need for us - as women - to be students of the Word. I often am challenged to find other women (with the exception of some inspiring bloggers) that are regularly speaking of spiritual things.

How much better wives/mothers/etc would we be if we were sharpening one another, as iron sharpens iron, with the true wisdom of God on a regular basis?! The thought of that is truly thrilling to me.

Jess Connell said...

Yes, you guys are so right... my mistake! It now says 2 Chronicles, which is the *correct* reference... sorry for the confusion!

Jess

CappuccinosMom said...

That is very cool!

Rebecca said...

Great post!! Just found your blog...