2 Kings 21
-An indictment comes on Judah in this chapter as Hezekiah’s
son takes the throne and does abominable evil in the sight of the LORD God.
Manasseh assumes authority and control of the kingdom of Judah as a twelve year
old and promptly takes Israel back into abhorrent sin and idol worship as he
rebuilt the high places that his father had destroyed and erected alters to
Baal and Asherah in the most holy places imaginable even as Ahab, king of
Israel, had done with Jezebel. Manasseh served the hosts of heaven and
worshipped them instead of the God of his father, the True and Living God. He
made his sons pass through the fire (sacrificed them in pagan worship),
practiced witchcraft, and used divination dealing with mediums and spiritists.
“He did much evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him to anger (2 Kings
21:1-6).” God was infuriated because He had chosen Jerusalem from all the
tribes of Israel to put His Name forever, and this insubordinate king was
defiling His holy Name and disgracing His Temple. He had promised longevity and
stability in the land as long as they observed His statutes and laws that Moses
had commanded them, “but they did not listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do
evil more than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the sons of Israel (2
Kings 21:7-9).”
-Now the LORD spoke through His servants the prophets to warn
and rebuke. The prophets reported from the Heavenly Father that He was bringing
incredible calamity to the point of making whoever hears of it have tingling ears
on both sides (a tangible emotional reaction). Jerusalem will be wiped as a dish
by her enemies becoming a plunder and spoil to them because they had done evil and
shed innocent blood in the sight of their God provoking Him to anger (2 Kings 21:10-16).
Manasseh passes away, but his son Amon is just as bad. He was killed by his servants
in a conspiracy and Josiah became king after this assassination (2 Kings 21:17-26).
-*Application* We see the things the LORD detests from reading
this passage. The thing for us is to abide by His decrees and commands, which center
around a supreme love for Him above all else. We must submit to His authority and
obey for our benefit and well being. God only has our best interests in mind as
He did for Israel. Don’t be stubborn and stiff-necked in rebellion against the good
things God has planned for you. Give Him glory and whole hearted devotion instead
of idolatry. The other thing to consider here for those of us who are parents is
to raise our children up in the nurture, admonition, and fear of the LORD. Somehow
Hezekiah failed his LORD, his nation, and his family by raising a son who departed
from his own devout faith. This can often happen if we are not diligent to train
and instruct our children properly in the ways of the LORD, praying for them and
laying them before God to discipline and correct. Train up your children in the
way they should go and when they are older they will not depart (Proverbs 22:6).
Verse to Memorize: 2
Kings 21:9
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