Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

4 August 2024

Reading From II Kings 22-23, II Chronicles 34-35

 “Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter.

She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’

 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’”

–II Chronicles 34:22-28

     The Word of the Lord spoken through the Prophet Huldah was one of both judgment and mercy for King Josiah and all the people. Not that her age matters regarding the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon her, but from her husband’s relationship as grandson of the Keeper of the Wardrobe, she might have been a young woman.  She spoke with authority as Yahweh’s mouthpiece to not only the High Priest Hilkiah but also the members of the court with him and through them directly to the king. 

The consequences of Israel’s idolatry should not have come as a surprise to them; she recounted them directly from the written record of the Law of God. But because the Word of the Lord had been neglected for so long, its precepts, the blessings of obedience and the curses for disobedience were all shocking to them.  This is a prime example that anyone claiming to be a true prophet or prophetess will speak messages from the Lord and what they say or write will be in perfect alignment with the letter and the spirit of what God has already said.  He will never contradict Himself. 

     King Josiah’s repentance was a wonderful expression of what we studied earlier regarding humility and contrition.  It was his response to the Word of the Lord that moved Him to be merciful.  In the same way, in our sinful state we are enemies of God until we allow ourselves to be softened and guided by the Holy Spirit to genuine repentance.  As we turn to Jesus in humility, He meets us where we are at in our lives, cleanses us and begins the beautiful process of life-long spiritual healing from the damage sin has done to us.  God yearns to bring every human being along in that process of sanctification from glory to glory, but He will not force it upon us.  We must choose of our own free will to respond to His love.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for Your goodness and mercy to us.  Thank You for not treating us as our sins deserve but rather according to Your unfailing love.  Empower us to live lives that please You and honor You.  Soften our hearts we pray.  Melt away the callousness that builds up with continual sin.  I pray that You would break that sin cycle in the lives of Your children by Your blood and the power of Your Holy Spirit.  Thank You for intervening in our lives with Your transformative grace.  In Jesus’ strong and mighty Name I pray, Amen.”

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

–Ezekiel 36:26