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.