1Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 2He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the the Lordhad driven out before the Israelites. 3He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” 5In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.
7He took the image he had made and put it in God’s temple, of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. 8I will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land I assigned to your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them concerning all the laws, decrees and regulations given through Moses.” 9But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.
10The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11So the Lordbrought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.13And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God. (2 Chronicles 33)
Thoughts: Manasseh was the most wicked king in the history of Judah. He put a pagan altar in the Temple. He practiced child sacrifice. All of this was evil to God who is a jealous God- wanting us to love Him and not love other gods at the same time. God is a God of love- pure love. False gods distract from this and even cause us to disobey what we know the real God wants. Manasseh knew about the Lord from his father Hezekiah. He knew about how God had delivered him miraculously. But he chose a different path. He chose to rebel- perhaps in an effort to show he was more powerful than God. But no king can compare to the Lord. In the end, Manasseh was humbled by the very nation his father had conquered by a miracle of the Lord. But Manasseh repented and was given a second chance. This is an illustration of God's grace. No matter how far we go astray, no matter how deep our rebellion, there is still room and a call to come back to the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, help me to love you with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Forgive me of the times I have made things and events god over you.
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