Session 13 2 Kings 22:8-20
Huldah the prophetess explained God’s Word to the king’s men.
14 So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan,
and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas,
keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second District.
They spoke with her.
15 She said to them, “This is what the LORD God of Israel says:
Say to the man who sent you to me,
16 ‘This is what the LORD says:
I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants,
fulfilling all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read,
17 because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods
in order to anger me with all the work of their hands.
My wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.’18 Say this to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD:
‘This is what the LORD God of Israel says:
As for the words that you heard,
19 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD
when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants,
that they would become a desolation and a curse,
and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I myself have heard’ —
this is the LORD’s declaration.
20 ‘Therefore, I will indeed gather you to your ancestors, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace.
Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place.’”
Then they reported to the king.
Add Huldah to the Cast of Characters list on the board
along with a brief description of who she was.
The five-man delegation sent by the king finds a prophetess named Huldah.
She has a two-part message directed first toward the nation of Judah and second to King Josiah.
Actions and Consequences.
focus on verses 15-17
List the responses under Actions on the board.
List the responses under Consequences.
Focus on verses 18-20
Upon hearing the words of the Law, Josiah had realized how far the people had wandered
from what God had instructed and intended. Josiah’s heart was broken;
rather than being haughty and defensive, he was humble and submissive.
The nation of Judah would feel God’s judgements because of their disobedience.
Yet God would withhold that judgement till after Josiah’s death because his “heart was tender” toward God.
Direct attention to the Cast of Characters listed on the board.
Consider how each of those people acted in obedience to God’s Word once the book of law was discovered.
Direct attention to the first question set (p. 112):
Discuss as a group ways of helping others read and study God’s Word.
How can the group help others already involved in the group?
How can the group help others nor involved in a group?
Lead the group to reflect on their study of the 1, 2 Kings.
Recall ways the study has shown us the destructiveness of sin
compared with the purpose and hope that comes from a life committed to following God.
Ask:
What’s one thing you’ll use from our study to help you move toward a stronger commitment to God?
Close in prayer,
thanking God for His Word.
Pray that the group will grow even stronger in their commitment
to study and apply God’s Word in daily living.
Reinforce the session by praying daily for the group as this study of 1-2 Kings wraps up and a new study begins. Pray that they would be seeking God through His Word daily.