Thus Says the Lord: Huldah’s Role in Scripture’s Canon

What Does “Thus Says the Lord” Mean in the Bible?

"Thus says the Lord." Four hundred and thirteen times we see this expression used in the Bible. The person saying it is a prophet. A prophet of God speaks only the words God has given him or her. They were 100% accurate in their predictions. Most predicted near-term events but some spoke of things to happen at the end of the world.

Why Were Prophets in the Bible Persecuted?

To be a prophet meant you were set apart for a special purpose. Prophets often lived difficult lives. They were abused and ridiculed. Sometimes, like Isaiah, they were murdered because many times they spoke of impending judgment. This was not what people wanted to hear. Think of Jeremiah crying out from the well (cistern) he had been thrown into by the people. But as the prophet Micaiah says, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell only what the Lord tells me” (1 Kings 22:14). Every prophecy made had to be 100% accurate (Deuteronomy 18:22) because God never lies.

How to Tell a True Prophet from a False One in the Bible

One of the signs that a prophet was false was that they spoke what the people wanted to hear, not what God was really saying. Even today, we may prefer to hear words that just "tickle our ears" rather than be convicted by the Holy Spirit. Often their predictions were wrong. Many times they were deceptive so they could further their own agendas. In Matthew 7:16, Jesus says we will know a prophet is real by examining his fruit.

Books of Prophecy in the Bible: Major and Minor Prophets

Some prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah wrote books that we find in the Bible, but many did not. There are 17 prophetic books in the Old Testament and only one in the New Testament. We also have what are known as Major and Minor Prophets. This doesn't indicate the importance of their message, but simply that Major Prophets wrote longer books that had a broader scope, while the writings of Minor Prophets were shorter and more focused. Prophets didn't end with the Old Testament. We see several mentioned in the New Testament as well.

Jeremiah’s Prophecy of the New Covenant Explained

Jeremiah is an example of a prophet who spoke for the Lord. In Jeremiah 3:12-18, Jeremiah says, "Thus says the Lord" as he called for true repentance and a return to the Lord. God promised to restore their land and promised a New Covenant. Jeremiah 31:31-34 reiterates the promise of a New Covenant. This was partially fulfilled when the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon, but more completely fulfilled with Jesus as our High Priest and the formation of the New Covenant.

Ezekiel’s Heart of Flesh Prophecy and Its Fulfillment at Pentecost

Ezekiel is another example of one who spoke for God. "Thus says the Lord" in Ezekiel 11:19-20, God promised a new heart and spirit to replace their hardened hearts with a heart of flesh. What does it mean to you for your heart to be made of flesh instead of stone?

Many scholars believe this prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believers, both men and women, thus fulfilling Joel's prophecy (Joel 2:28-29). In each believer, over the centuries, this promise of the Holy Spirit is still being fulfilled. Now let’s look at how women also served as prophets in both Testaments.

Female Prophets in the Bible: Old and New Testament

It may surprise you to learn that prophets were not only men. In the Old Testament five women were described as a prophetess: Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Noadiah, and one unnamed. There are also women prophets in the New Testament. Anna, at the presentation of Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:36-38) and Philip's four daughters are all described as prophetesses (Acts 21:9). These daughters were just some of several women mentioned in Acts that were important to the early church. Let's look now at one key Old Testament prophetess.

Thus Says the Lord: Huldah’s Role in Scripture’s Canon

One prophetess you may not have heard much about was Huldah. Have you ever wondered how holy scripture was preserved? Huldah's story helps answer that question. Huldah is found in two places in the Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 34:22-28 and 2 Kings 22:14-20. Why is she so important? Because when God's word declares: "Thus says the Lord", Huldah's role in scripture's canon becomes clear. Our Bible might not look the same without her.

How the Book of the Law Was Rediscovered in Josiah’s Day

We know just a little about Huldah. Her husband worked in the king's court as a "keeper of the wardrobe". The King at the time was Josiah, the last good king Judah would ever have. In the midst of renovating the temple, the High Priest Hilkiah found the Book of the Law. Most scholars believe the Book of the Law had been lost between 55 and 80 years.

Imagine if the gospels were lost to us for a generation! The Book of the Law, most scholars agree, was the book of Deuteronomy. This book was the very foundation of the Jewish religion and their entire system of government. Judah's apostasy was so bad, their God so neglected, that they literally didn't know where it was for all those years.

King Josiah’s Reaction to the Rediscovered Book of the Law

Upon finding the book, the high priest gave it to a scribe who read it to King Josiah. Josiah was devastated to hear the words from the book. He tore his clothes and said, "...great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book" (2 Chronicles 34:21).

Huldah’s Prophecy: God’s Judgment and Mercy for Judah

Who do you turn to when you need to know if what you've heard really comes from God? Josiah turned to Huldah. Josiah sent five of his men, including the High Priest Hilkiah, to seek out Huldah and inquire what the Word of the Lord was concerning the rediscovered book. This was the respect and esteem that Huldah was held in. They knew she spoke God's truth. Huldah told the men to go back and tell King Josiah that God's wrath would indeed be poured out on the people for worshipping false gods and forsaking Him.

How King Josiah Received Mercy After Hearing God’s Word

But for the King, she said, because his heart was tender and he humbled himself before God, he would live and die in peace. God would have mercy on him. He would not see the judgment that was to come. Josiah needed the counsel of the Lord in this matter, just as we sometimes do.

Why Seeking Godly Counsel Still Matters Today

Have you ever asked someone for Godly advice? They may not be a prophet, but when we are blessed with Christian brothers and sisters who are walking in the Spirit we can certainly go to them for counsel. It takes humility to ask someone for advice. The Bible encourages us to seek counsel from those who are spiritually mature (Proverbs 11:14 and 15:22). Whom have you asked for wisdom, and did their words point you back to scripture?

How King Josiah Led Israel in Spiritual Renewal

The words that Huldah spoke greatly influenced Josiah because he knew they came from God. The truth she shared with them that day verified the fact that the Book of the Law that was discovered was really the Word of God. The same word that you and I read today.

In response to hearing this, he read the Book of the Law to the people and made a covenant to the Lord to be obedient to everything that was in the book. He caused the children of Israel to work diligently to serve God. He removed all the abominations from the entire country; all the idolatry and practice of pagan religions.

How Huldah Helped Confirm the Biblical Canon

Without her validation, the Book of the Law (Deuteronomy) might have been lost to history. Because of her Deuteronomy is recognized as inspired by God. When a book is part of the Bible, it is said to be in the Canon of Scripture. The Canon of Scripture is the specific books that we recognize as being inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. The Old Testament canon was decided on between approximately 200 B.C. to 200 A.D.

The finalization of the Old and New Testaments was decided on mainly by various church councils. An important aspect in deciding if New Testament books were inspired was their connection to the apostles and how they described God. All 27 of the New Testament books were written in the first century.

Can We Trust the Bible? Confidence in God’s Word Today

Today, when we read our Bibles we know it is the inspired Word of God. This is thanks, in part, to people like the prophetess Huldah. The Bible in essence, in its entirety is, "Thus says the Lord." Those words don't lie because God doesn't. Remember Paul's words in 2 Timothy 3:14-15:

"But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

People Also Ask

Were any prophets, at least initially, loved and respected?

Yes, while many faced persecution, there were some who were respected or admired during their lifetime by some people

• Moses - often considered the greatest of the prophets. He was admired for his close relationship with God and his leadership skills for the people of Israel.

• Samuel - widely respected as a prophet and judge in Israel. 1 Samuel 3:19-20 tells us that all of Israel recognized him as a prophet of the Lord. He was admired for both his integrity and leadership.

• Others were Elisha and Daniel.