The Chronicler’s account is much briefer than that of the writer of the Book of Kings. Concerning King Manasseh and his “relationship” with God, particularly God “speaking” to him. Let me show you what I mean.

“And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.” 2nd Chronicles 33:10, King James Version. Then, the following verse: “Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.”

Now the “parallel” account. “And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying ….” 2nd Kings 21:10, whereupon then comes a detailed report of the “chastisement” God send His people for their sins. “Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies; because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day. Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.” Wow, 2nd Kings 21:11-16.

I am flooded with thoughts!

First of all, Chronicles merely tells us “God spoke.” As in “the Lord spoke to Manasseh.”

But Kings tells us “how” He did so. “The Lord spoke by His Servants the Prophets.” Including the great Isaiah, if we have our dates right!

Folks, that “string of words” (God’s “servants the prophets”) occurs 19 times in the Bible, if I’ve counted correctly this morning. In the Old Testament 17 times, and in the New Testament 2 more times. The noun “servants” is “ebed” in Hebrew, meaning “slave!” It’s derived from a root verb meaning “to work.” Thank God for the Prophets!

Second, look how “brief” Chronicles records the misdeeds (wicked sins) of Manasseh! When compared to Kings anyway. One verse as compared to six verses! Chronicles again, a verse we shall study tomorrow. “Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.” 2 Chronicles 33:11

What a difference! I am again convinced that the prevailing emphasis in Chronicles is GRACE, while the point in Kings is SIN and RIGHTEOUSNESS. God is both, kind and holy!

Third, Chronicles (and only Chronicles) mentions the (astounding) fact that Manasseh “repented” of his multitudes of sins … once he was in prison. And not of word of any such thing from Kings! Again, I’m going “ahead” to show you: “And when Manasseh was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him (the Lord): and he was intreated of him, and (God) heard his supplication.” Thrilling, in ways!

Yet the Book of Kings next says of the Monarch: “Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.” No “sign” of any remorse, just the terrible damage he did all those many years. What an illustration of the “consequences” of sin, of its “wages.” All the way to his “death!”

Lastly today, in Chronicles we are told the obvious, but still told nonetheless. About the people NOT LISTENING to the warnings from God. “And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: BUT THEY WOULD NOT HEARKEN.”

I guess the writer of Kings figured we would automatically see that the people did not obey the Prophets! Plus, he wants to show us how God defends his Uprightness and requires obedience from the Jews, His own.

These things being said, I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR GOD’S GRACE. Aren’t you? And for Scripture like 1st John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

A King’s turning back to God, sorrowfully at that. Such an act is rare in any history book, and (looks like) barely made it into the Bible! It’s like a gigantic diamond shining in a dark, damp coal mine! A jewel in the rough! Light in darkness! “Christ receiveth sinful men!”

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Our Text today, part of the inspired biography of King Manasseh of Judah, sadly states: “So 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.” 2nd Chronicles 33:9

The main verb used here, “made to err,” translates “taah” in Hebrew. It means “to go astray, to wander, to stagger.” In the King James Bible it is rendered “to be seduced” 3 times, “to be deceived” 1 time and to be taken “out of the way” 2 more times! It’s also a Hiphil stem verb, suggesting causation. “Manasseh caused Judah to go astray.”

The noun “inhabitants” means the permanent residents of the City, those who “remain” there. Abiding in her midst, not transients or visitors. The citizenry of Judah!

The expression “to do worse” is “asah ra” in Hebrew. It blends the verb “asah” meaning “to do, to make, to construct, to fashion, to accomplish” plus the noun “ra,” the normal word for “sin” in their vocabulary. He (Manasseh) created sin for them to pursue! As in “a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations.” Proverbs 6:18, a “pioneer,” a “pacesetter” in the area of evil!

Worse than the “heathen?”

Yes, with “goy” meaning the non-Jewish world. The filthy gentiles! The people God dove out of Canaan … as Joshua led the armies of Israel into the “Promised land.”

The verb “destroyed” is “shamad,” meaning “exterminated.” Also “overthrown.”

“Before” the children of Israel … is literally “in front of the faces” of the Children of Israel! The people of Judah, their forefathers anyway, had seen (as eyewitnesses) God’s judgment, God’s wrath fall upon the wicked of that earlier day! And yet … now their great, great, great grandchildren were following the steps of the abominably wicked!

Apparently Gods people, due to “drift, slippage, backsliding,” were then worse than the rank heathen used to be!

Wow!

And who led them into such a morass of iniquity?

Their King.

Proverbs 29:2 comes to mind. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” This says a lot!

I’m thinking God will hold that leader responsible, too.

Proverbs 6:18 says God “hates” … “feet that be swift in running to mischief.” What about those feet that lead others in their steps?

It sounds like God keeps pretty good “records,” doesn’t it? “So 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.”

God, help us (nationally) today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I love it when we have more than one account of some Bible fact. Or some statement, reported by several different authors. In those instances I do NOT see contradictions, but slightly varying “shades of intent.” Based on the Holy Spirit’s goal in a given (specific) context.

In that light we must notice today’s verse. God and Judah are in view. “Neither will I (the Lord) any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your (Jewish) fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.” 2nd Chronicles 33:8

Here it appears God is going to do them good … period. In order that they will obey Him, for that very purpose. Sort of like Paul’s Romans 2:4 declaration. “Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that … THE GOODNESS OF GOD LEADETH THEE TO REPENTANCE?”

God will (“not remove the foot of Israel”) leave His people in the Land He had given them. They will not be evicted, overrun and placed in slavery!

God gives them this SECURITY … thus expecting their allegiance, loyalty, submission.

By the way, see what “type” obedience God expects! “ALL that I have commanded you!” Then “according to the WHOLE Law!”

Wow, 100% compliance!

But now …

Here’s the same verse, the same statement, as recorded by the historian whom God used to give us the Book (Journal) of the Kings. “Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only IF they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.” 2 Kings 21:8

In this view God has inserted an “if!”

It is no longer … “I will be good to you so you will obey Me.”

It is now … “I will keep you in the Land IF you will observe to do the commandments, all of them!”

What a difference!

But I have noticed (on more than one occasion) that the Books of Chronicles are MUCH MORE GRACE ORIENTED that the simple historical annals of the Books of Samuel or Kings!

In fact, concerning our King (Manasseh) in this Series of Lessons … the Second Kings account does not even mention the man’s repentance and restoration by God!

But the Second Chronicles certainly does!

Again, I suggest no contradiction here.

Rather a different emphasis by the writers of the two sets of Books.

One (the Kings) highlight the severity of God, the wages of sin.

The other (the Chronicles) focus on the goodness of God, His astounding forgiveness.

Paul again … “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God.” Romans 11:22

Wow!

Makes me so thankful for the Gospel!

Grace!

Grace!

Grace!

Zechariah 4:7 mentions a headstone (no doubt a Type of Jesus) … “And he shall bring forth the Headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, Grace unto it.”

Grace!

Grace!

Grace!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

God had said it long ago. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God.” Exodus 20:4-5

Yet King Manasseh ignored this command. Blatantly, purposefully, rebelliously!

His biographer records: “And he (Manasseh) set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever.” 2 Chronicles 33:7

And the historian who wrote the Book of Kings agrees. “And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever.” 2 Kings 21:7, nearly the same words!

God’s Name ONLY was to be adored in that Temple!

But now, a man-made image, a stupid idol … was also to be worshipped in that Holy Place!

The Hebrew verb “set” translates “sum,” a little word meaning “to appoint, to ordain!” It sounds so official!

The noun “carved image” (in Hebrew “pecel”) comes from a root word meaning “to cut, shape, fashion, hew, quarry.” The perverted “artist” would be needed, his expertise! A woodworker, goldsmith or stonemason, sculptor.

I still notice today how many ultra-liberal, pushing-the-envelope, unashamedly wicked communities seem to “love” the “arts!” Of course they often re-define what the “arts” may involve! (A crucifix, a cross, bottled in urine … for example! Blasphemy!)

This “graven image” is a slap in the Face of Almighty God!

Folks, in America today … so proud of her multi-cultured mindset, her unprecedented diversity, her limitless pluralism … our Nation  likely has more idols and images and false tokens of worship than ever before, in all our history!

We tend to be harsh on King Manasseh, and maybe rightly so.

But I remind you, our Country is not far behind!

God, help us.

Today, Christian friends, make MUCH of the great God Who saved you from sin. Tell Him how exclusive He is in your life! Agree with Peter who one day said: “Lord, to whom (else) shall we go? Thou (alone) hast the words of eternal life.” John 6:68

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I can think of no other Bible character who went down hill so rapidly! One would think the man to have been hopelessly apostate! Unredeemable! Beyond reach … even of the Grace of God!

Watch what he did in today’s Verse. “And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.” 2nd Chronicles 33:6

And the historian in 2 Kings 21:6 agrees! “And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”

The King actually became so influenced, so infatuated (these sins no longer sound like things done simply under “duress”) with the “spirit of that wicked age” that he actually burned to death his child (or children) in an act of worship to a heathen god!

God no where in the Bible condones child sacrifice!

Manasseh became an advocate of “demon worship” as well.

He consulted the evil “underworld,” seeking advice on how to govern his kingdom!

All the activities listed in today’s verse are forbidden by Almighty God. Furthermore, they are “abominable” to Him. Manasseh did all these things “in the Face of the Lord!” The Hebrew says, “in the eye of the Lord.”

And these deeds … “provoked to anger” our great God. This verb is “kaas,” meaning “to anger” 43 times in Scripture. But also meaning “to grieve” 1 time. And get this, “to be sorrowful” 1 time!

“Much wickedness!”

It’s a wonder God allowed Manasseh to continue living!

Seems here like a man “addicted” to sin.

I started to say what a bad influence (surely) he was being on his child or children. But I forgot, he killed them (cremated them while they were still living) in the name of wickedness.

Yes, one step down the so-called “slippery slope” of sin can land you … who knows where?

And Manasseh gives us proof.

Is there any hope?

Stay with these daily Lessons, folks.

God is not through yet!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell