Leonard Ravenhill once said, "One of these days, some simple soul will pick up the book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed."
Although Leonard is no longer with us on earth, I appreciated his bold, unapologetic preaching. If you have never heard of him, I suggest you look him up and take a listen. People squirmed in their chairs during his sermons. They wrestled with Biblical truth through his counter-cultural lectures, as he challenged believers to truly examine themselves, and their lifestyles, through the mirror of God’s word, because many were embracing the toxic mixture of false doctrines and lukewarm Christianity. And this wasn’t 2022. His evangelistic ministry began in 1927, when he and several friends set out on foot across England to towns “with very dead and lifeless churches.” Some granted them permission to speak, while others kicked them to the curb. The truth is inconvenient when we’re living comfortable, complacent, and cowardly Christianity.
Huldah the Prophetess
Huldah the prophetess was a woman who spoke bold truth. She was the wife of Shallum ben Tikvah, who held a prominent position in the royal court as the keeper of the king’s wardrobe. Huldah takes her place among five women prophets who are singled out in the Old Testament; Miram, Deborah, No’adiah (Neh. 6:14), and Isaiah’s unnamed wife (Isaiah 8:3). And, the Bible does not find their presence rebellious or “out of Godly order”, rather it makes clear that female prophets abounded in Israel, as they also did their near east neighbors.
An Inconvenient Truth
During King Josiah’s reign, he began extensive repairs on the temple in Jerusalem. The work of restoring the temple was under the direction of Hilkiah, the high priest, as was the careful accounting of the money used in the restoration. In the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, when Hilkiah was counting money, something unexpected happened:
“I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord!”~ 2 Kings 22:8
The book of the Law, or the first 5 books of the Bible, which would have been placed by the side of the ark of the covenant, had been either lost, hidden, or set aside during the wicked reign of prior kings. Finding this book was a dramatic event that changed the course of Josiah’s reign. Hearing the word of the Lord spoken for the first time caused the king to tear his clothes in genuine remorse...he repented. Repentance means to make a strong turn toward a new course, and that is exactly what Josiah did. He sent Hilkiah and other trusted advisors to inquire of the Lord, and they sought out Huldah the prophetess. She got right to the point! She started with the bad news. Disaster was about to strike. The people had abandoned YHWH, and turned to worship other gods. God’s wrath was kindled against the people of Judah – they would be punished for abandoning Him. Then she gave the good news. Only king Josiah would be spared. So, like Moses and Joshua before him, Josiah followed the ancient standard for godly leadership and assembled the people to renew the covenant.
The Bold Truth
Huldah did not speak to please people, but spoke the truth of what God gave her – and radical change followed. Whether it’s from a woman or a man, I believe that’s what’s missing today, bold voices for truth that lead a nation, a people, the church, to repent, and then renew covenant. Are we filled with genuine remorse when we hear the truth from scripture, and how far we have strayed from it, or does our pride keep us deceived from even seeing the error of our ways? Consider this, that only 6% of adult Americans are living from a biblical worldview, while the remaining 94% are embracing a mixture called syncretism, which includes: Biblical theism, postmodernism, nihilism, moralistic therapeutic deism, Eastern mysticism (or New-Age), Marxism (along with CRT), and secular humanism (Barna Research). We’re giving a new meaning to the word “melting pot.” Always remember, Satan uses a mixture to deceive. God’s standard is higher than this – because His standard is His word. He will not deviate from it.
So, which percentage do you fall in? Does your life reflect the mixture or the pure, undefiled word of God?
Perhaps Leonard Ravenhill was right when he said, "One of these days, some simple soul will pick up the book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed."
In Love - JCMs
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