Most people know first hand about the impact of a Mother on one’s life, especially a godly Mother.

Therefore I sought information about Manasseh’s Mother. Who would have been, of course, the Wife of King Hezekiah, the “Queen” Mother.

She is mentioned only once, best I can tell. In 2 Kings 21:1 we are told: “Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hephzibah.”

The name is (apparently) relatively rare in Israel.

“Hephzibah” means (from “chephetzs” in Hebrew) “pleasure” or “delight!” Adding the suffix, “My delight is in her!” Pretty impressive!

The noun itself is so heavy with meaning that Isaiah used it once to describe a redeemed Israel! What a bright prospect: “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.” Isaiah 62:4

I guess you could say that Jehovah God “named” His Wife (the people of Israel) “Hephzibah” too, meaning “one in Whom God takes ‘delight!'”

Wow!

This is Manasseh’s natural Mother, of course. Because the noun “mother” is simply spelled “em” in Hebrew, basically meaning “parting.” He is the fruit of her body, of her womb, he was “parted” from her at birth.

Well, I thought maybe the lady was a bad influence on the ultimately wicked young King Manasseh. As Jezebel certainly had a negative impact on her children. But really, I can find no trace of any heathenism in her life. And she is not a gentile at all, but a Jew.

I have even come across a few commentators who believe Psalm 45 is a description of Hezekiah’s and Hephzibah’s Wedding! If so, she was a godly lady indeed! Beautiful and graceful as well!

There may be a sermon here on Christian Marriage, folks!

Plus this, after Hezekiah was expected to die … and God miraculously added 15 years to his life … our godly Monarch still had no children! No heir to the throne!

And it took (at least) 2 years, if not a little more, for the Queen to become “with child.”

All I’m saying is this. The child (Manasseh) was wanted, no doubt cherished, loved no end … and maybe even a little bit “spoiled!”

BUT HE DID HAVE AN APPARENTLY GODLY UPBRINGING.

A revivalist Father, King Hezekiah.

A delightful Mother, Queen Hephzibah.

STILL .. .WITH ALL THE OPPORTUNITY PLACED BEFORE HIM … HIS ABILITY TO INFLUENCE A WHOLE NATION FOR THE GLORY OF GOD … MANASSEH SPURNED EVERY BIT OF THAT POTENTIAL!

He sinned and sinned and sinned!

Worse than the prodigal son.

Worse than most other kings of Judah.

A life, a long life (55 years on the throne) used to the detriment of the cause of Christ!

Oh today, let’s pray for our children and grandchildren!

That they will be molded and formed by the godly parenting they receive.

That they will not rebel against the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Like Manasseh did.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Let’s claim and pray Proverbs 22:6 for our posterity. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Grant it, Lord.

 

We are currently studying King Manasseh of Judah, just beginning the series.

First let’s get a one verse summary of the quality of Manasseh’s time ruling over Judah. “Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.” 2 Chronicles 33:9

Yes, he was a wicked King!

Now, who was his father? Surprisingly, godly King Hezekiah was! And 2 Kings 18:21 tells us of this good man: “He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.”

A proper, “right-with-God” Daddy brings an ungodly (very much so) son into the world!

Oh, by the way, this is the family of King Hezekiah who was about to die … but earnestly prayed … and then God added 15 more years to his life. Remember? See 2 Kings 20:6, for the specifics.

Here’s my point today. Ponder the following fact. Had Hezekiah not lived those extra 15 years … the most wicked King ever to rule Israel would have never been born!

Wow!

This, folks, may be a case of a man getting the desire of his heart … to the detriment of those around him!

We should be careful what we ask of the Lord!

This reminds me of Psalm 106:15 where Israel selfishly demanded a certain kind of food. “And he (the Lord God) gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”

They got their lustful desires … but paid a dear price spiritually for their stubbornness.

In this light I am so glad Paul never had his “thorn” removed!

He (the Apostle) was not granted that specific request (though he asked 3 times) … but, goodness, how his soul prospered because of the resultant (unremoved) pain!

There’s a lot to learn about prayer.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

After 28 Lessons from the Book of Zephaniah, let’s turn our attention from a Prophet to a King! A less known King, perhaps. His Name is Manasseh. And he never ruled Israel, per se. Just the little two-tribe Kingdom of Judah, the “Southern Kingdom” she’s called. In other words, after the nation divided, split, after the reigns of Saul and David and Solomon.

Now, this is not Manasseh the son of Joseph, the Grandson of Jacob, who is perhaps much better known than even our King. This is Manasseh the (royal) Son of godly King Hezekiah.

Yet sadly, this Lad did not live up to his Father’s expectations. Manasseh became very wicked … and ruled many years as well. The longest administration in Judah’s history, a total of 55 years! (In reality the longest reign of any King in all of the history of God’s people the Jews.)

What we know of King Manasseh basically comes from one of two Old Testament chapters. Either 2nd Kings 21 or 2nd Chronicles 33. And no two histories of a single man ever presented a more different emphasis on a human being’s life!

We shall enjoy the variation, and magnify the Grace of God in so doing.

So today I merely give you the initial verse about Manasseh. “And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.” 2nd Chronicles 32:33

Let’s pray the Lord will lead us into “truth” and “wisdom” as we study this man’s biography.

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Many of the Psalms do this, begin on a spiritually “low” note and end on a “high” one, sometimes very “high!” Psalm 13 is a prime example.

But we’ve found the past few weeks that the Prophet Zephaniah, his Book, does that as well! And today we’ve arrived at his “ultimate” peak.

God is addressing His people, the Israelites. “Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.” Zephaniah 3:19-20

To “undo” someone, what’s that? The Hebrew is interesting. It’s “asah,” often translated “to do” (1,333 times) and “to make” (653 more times). But here the context calls for its opposite meaning. God will “do” judgment on those who have “afflicted” Judah! Isaiah 28:21 calls such “judgment” God’s “strange act.” (The English verb “undo” is only found twice in the whole Bible!)

Our Text next presents two verbs of great encouragement. God “will save” her who “halteth” (with the Hebrew simply meaning “to limp”). God will be her Deliverer, her Saviour!

And God will also “gather” her who has been “driven out.” The “gather” verb means “to call to assembly!” Scattered Israel will be outcast no more!

Our two-verse “duo” now continues with separate clauses of “reversal of image.”

First … “I (still God) will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.” Speaking about Israel.

And then …  “I  will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth.” Speaking to Israel!

All reproach is gone!

Likely, many (former enemies) will apologize to Israel for their hatred to the children of Abraham. But by the time these verses are fulfilled … the children of God!

“Captivity” is gone, forever!

In other words, “freedom” in our Lord!

What a great “set” of promises God has given Judah/Israel in the last paragraph of Zephaniah.

Worth reprinting, I think: “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. 1ing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.” Zephaniah 3:8-20, still awaiting final realization.

Glory days ahead, for all God’s people … including the Israelites!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today’s verse has given me more “pause” than any in the whole Book of Zephaniah, I think.

And we’re only three verses from concluding our journey!

Here it is. “I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.” Zephaniah 3:18

The “I” in our Sentence is the Lord, of that we can be sure.

But some of the Israelites, the more godly I would suspect, are here “sorrowful.” Or “burdened.” Or feel like they are carrying a great load, a “reproach.”

These three words are nearly synonyms, meaning (in order as listed above) “grieved, something heavy needing to be lifted,” and “shamed, rebuked, scorned.”

But the key question is … “Why?”

What’s the cause of their consternation?

Something about the “solemn assemblies.” These are either the Feast Days (national Holy Days God gave Israel) or days of coming together for repentance or prayer.

We today would almost say “Revivals!”

The Hebrew for “solemn assembly” is “moed,” a word used 223 times in the Bible meaning “congregation” (150 times) and “feasts” (23 more times), feasts unto the Lord. As described in Leviticus 23, for example.

These people are heartbroken because … they have not been able to (in our words) go to Church and worship God! Enemy nations have overrun them. God’s judgment has fallen upon them. Their national sins have withheld God’s Blessings!

And a few, a “remnant,” are overwhelmed with hunger and thirst for the things of God!

God notices them in our verse today and is making provision to dispel their sorrow! To lift their burden! To turn away their shame!

Any heart burdened over sin and yearning for God’s Power … will hear from Him … soon!

What will God do on their behalf?

He says: “I will ‘gather’ them!” The Hebrew is “asaph,” meaning “to assemble!

Gods is calling a conclave!

A Meeting!

Christians have always loved getting together as a group and worshiping the Lord.

Seems God’s Heart is in agreement as well!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

IF WE WANT HIM … HE WILL COME!