Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:09] Pastor Chuck Allen here. And I want to thank you for joining me on another weekday podcast. We're in day four of this five day series talking about unsung heroes. And today I want us to talk about Hulda. It's a woman who spoke when it really mattered. And the passage comes out of second kings beginning in chapter 22.
[00:00:30] Thanks so much for joining me.
[00:00:32] When you think about some of these Old Testament unsung heroes and we start getting to hold up, one of the things that we can wrap our head around is that she, she shows up for only a few verses. Here's another one of those stories. But those verses help spark one of the greatest spiritual renewal in the nation of Israel's history.
[00:00:54] So here's the quick backstory.
[00:00:57] A young king named Josiah was on the throne of Judah and he wanted to repair the temple. And during that work, the priest Hilkiah found something remarkable. The book of the Law. It had been neglected for so long that people had forgotten what God said in it. And when the scroll was read to the king, the Bible says when the king heard what was written in the book of law, he tore his clothes in despair.
[00:01:26] Josiah, you see, he realized how far God's people had drifted from the will of God. So the king sent his top officials to find out what God was saying. They needed someone who could hear from the Lord and tell them the truth. And here's where Huldah comes in. The Bible says they went to the new quarter of Jerusalem to consult with the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shalom, son of Tikvah, son of Haras, the keeper of the temple wardrobe. I just love how ordinary that description is. Her husband took care of the temple wardrobe. She lived in a newer part of town. She wasn't sitting in the palace, but when, when the most important men in the kingdom needed a word from God, they knew where to go. Hulda was a woman whose life had made it clear she listened to the Lord. And when they came to her, she didn't soften the message to make anybody comfortable. She said, the Lord, the God of Israel has spoken. Then she told them the hard truth. Judgment was coming because the people had abandoned God. They took courage. She was speaking to the king's own representatives and she gave it to them straightway.
[00:02:49] But that's not all she said. She also gave them a beautiful word of grace for the king.
[00:02:56] She told them God's message for Josiah. Listen to what it says. You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard What I said against the city and its people. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. Did you catch that? I have indeed heard you.
[00:03:20] In the middle of a really hard message, God made sure that Josiah knew his humble heart had been seen. Hulda delivered both truth and grace, and that's a rare and precious gift. Some people are good at telling the truth, but forget grace. Others are full of grace but avoid the truth. Hulda gave both because both came from the heart of God. And then look what happens next. Josiah gathered all the people and the Bible says, from the least to the greatest, and read the book of the covenant to them. Then he renewed the covenant in the Lord's presence, and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. A whole nation turned back toward God. And it began with a faithful woman in the new quarter who was willing to speak when it mattered. Here's what I want you to take from this today.
[00:04:16] First, the way you live every day prepares you for the moment someone needs you. Hold it. Didn't become trustworthy the morning the officials knocked on her door. She'd been walking with God long before that. Your quiet faithfulness, friend. It's building something now. And one day, someone might come to you because they know you'll point them to the Lord.
[00:04:39] Second, if you're the one who needs to hear from God, take comfort in Josiah's story. When you humble yourself and come to God honestly, he hears you. You might feel like you've drifted too far.
[00:04:54] But the God who said, I have indeed heard you hasn't changed. He still responds to a humble heart.
[00:05:01] So ask yourself today who might need a word of truth and a word of grace from you?
[00:05:08] And is there an area in your life where you need to humble yourself and let God's word set things right?
[00:05:15] Either way, the God of all creation is ready to meet you. And let your prayer be. God, make me a person who will listen to you so closely that others know where to find your truth. And help me speak with honesty and grace. And thank you that when I humble myself, you hear me in the name of Jesus. Amen. Friends, go have a great day, and I'll be back tomorrow for another weekday podcast. God bless you. Bye now.
