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