Women of The Bible - The Prophetess Hilda

I have been impressed with the way God used women in the Bible. Although there were mainly men, you can find women throughout the Old and New Testament also in all the functions there were like: career women Deborah - president, judge and war woman; worship leaders and leader of the Israel nation along Moses and Aaron (Mary); prophetesses (Ana, Hilda and many others), apostles, deacons and other functions.

It is obvious that God has used and is likely to use women for His service, the way it pleases Him. You and I as women can play a wonderful role and fulfill the plan God has for our lives as long as we stay in His Word, without compromising.

God has His time when your role will be decisive and God has His time to lift you up to the stature He wants you to use for His glory.

Looking at prophetess Hilda, it impressed me to see how God used her. The people of Israel have departed so far from God that they didn’t have the book of law anymore. During Josiah’s reign they found the book of law but they didn’t know how exactly to handle the whole situation and what to do with it. It was in this context that the king sent the priests to the prophetess Hilda to ask the Lord what to do.

Here is the story:

"While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD that had been given through Moses…
…Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant: "Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book."

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

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 provoked me to 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 fathers, 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.' So they took her answer back to the king." Excerpt taken from the book of Chronicles chapter 34.

Jesus was first seen by women after His resurrection from the death. Are you a woman who loves God? Good for you! God has great plans for your life and it is worth it to make time among your career and all other roles you might have (mother, wife, cook, dish washer and house keeper, etc.) to ask God what is His plan for you.

Because Hilda let herself used by God, the whole nation of Israel turned back to God. Don’t underestimate your potential, although you might see it small and feeble, in God’s hand it can be used in incredible ways! Be blessed!