This morning as I opened up the Word to spend some time with my Lord I turned to 2 Kings 22. This chapter contains the beginning of the reign of King Josiah. Josiah follows the short evil reign of his father Amon and the long evil reign of his grandfather Manasseh. As I read through this chapter this morning my heart settled in on the two women mentioned in this chapter.

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. He did right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.”
(2 Kings 22:1-2)

“So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her. She said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, thus says the Lord, “Behold, I bring evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched.”’ But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord thus shall you say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel, “Regarding the words which you have heard, 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 should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord. “Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.”’” So they brought back word to the king.”
(2 Kings 22:14-20)

Josiah’s father and grandfather were wicked kings. His grandfather Manasseh repented in his later years, but his repentance did not nullify the ramifications of all the years his evil rule in rebellion to the Lord set into motion. Therefore the Word of God makes a point to let us know the name of Josiah’s mother, Jedidah, which means darling of the LORD. It would be his mother’s influence that would lead him to become a great and godly king not the men before him.

Then after Josiah is a grown man owning his reign as King of Judah, he makes the call to restore the house of the Lord. In the restoration process the book of the Law is found and when the book of the Law is found in the house of the Lord it would be a woman that that the men would seek for help. It would, in fact, be a married woman who would deliver the word of the LORD to Josiah.

It would not be her husband speaking for her. She would carry the title of prophetess. She would hear from the Lord. She would speak the Word of the Lord. She would speak FOR the Lord. She would declare the judgment of a nation. She would deliver the word of the Lord with authority. She would explain the words of the book of the Law to the King. She would.

Ladies, if you have been called to speak the Word of the Lord. If you have been called to teach the book of the law of the Lord. You do not need a man or a human institution to give you permission or ordination to do so… for God Himself ordained you in Christ Jesus for such a time as this.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
(2 Peter 2:9)

Whether you are called to use your voice in your home, in your community, or in your church.  Use it. Speak. Your God never silenced you. Jesus never told a woman not to go and tell. The Holy Spirit fills women and gifts women. The instructions and commands of Christ to go and teach every word of the Lord are not conditional according to your sex. Jesus said ALL authority was given to HIM and He is with you ALWAYS. He, therefore, is the only authority that you need to do whatever it is that He has called you to do.

Anyone who takes Scripture and twists it to use it to STOP the gospel from being preached from ANY mouth is acting in violation of the very Word of Christ. They do so to hold on to their own power, not to empower others. I cannot help but see this as direct opposition to who Jesus is and how He lived and why He came.

“And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
(Luke 2:17-20)

Jedidah and Huldah are just two women mentioned in the Bible who lead and speak on behalf of the Lord. There are so many more. I could write of so many more. I am a woman. I have been called to preach and to teach by the God of all Creation. I know this to the very core of my being. “As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped…” (2 Corinthians 11:10), for the love of my Christ compels me (2 Corinthians 5:14).