SCRIPTURE; 2 KINGS 21
MANASSEH KING OF JUDAH (vs. 1-18)
Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem for 55 years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord following the detestable practices of other nations. He built high places, erected altars to Baal and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the stary hosts and worshiped them. He built altars to all the stary hosts. He sacrificed his own son in fire, practiced sorcery & divination and consulted mediums and spiritists. His evil deeds provoked the Lord to anger. He took the carved Asherah poles and put it in the temple of the Lord and led the people astray. He also shed may innocent blood and had done more evil than all the kings who proceeded him.
So the Lord said through his prophets this message:
- I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle (v. 12)
- I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. (v. 13a)
- I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. (v. 13b)
- I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and hand them over to their enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their foes. (v. 14)
Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzza. And Amon, his son succeeded him as king.
AMON KING OF JUDAH (vs. 19-26)
Amon was 22 years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem for two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and walk in the ways of his father Manasseh. Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated the king in his palace. The people of the land killed who had plotted against king Amon and they made Josiah his son king in his place. Amon was buried in his grave in the garden of Uzza and Josiah his son succeeded him as king.
THOUGHT:
Manasseh built what his father Hezekiah had torn down and tore down what Hezekiah had built up. Manasseh followed the wicked ways of his grandfather king Ahab and rebelled against his godly father’s example. God sent his prophets to warn Manasseh but he would not listen. God announced judgment and captivity to the nation.
Manasseh practiced sorcery and divination and consulted mediums , psychics that opened the door for demonic influences. Today, there are also books, TV shows and games that explain fortune telling. Do not let the desire to know the future lead you into occult practices and superstitious belief. They are counterfeits of God’s power that is contrary to our faith in God.