I am reading a book about the Devil. In preparation for a series of Sermons on that Liar! (I want to use Isaiah chapter 14 and Ezekiel chapter 28 as my basic Text material.) But my point: last night in chapter 2 of that Monograph I came across an unforgettable sentence. “Sin triggers the law of ‘unintended consequences!'” I underlined that clause, placed (drew) a red “heart” by it at the bottom of the page, and initialed my little “Worth the Whole Book” symbol there as well!

To me that powerful little line … Sin triggers the law of unintended consequences … means that when one sins, there is “no telling” what the consequences might be, of that unwise act! The “wages” of sin are, in many cases, extreme! (Even in your garden this Summer … you will reap MORE that you sow! Just 2 kernels of corn, the “seed,” planted in the ground will … hopefully … yield a thousand-fold, many whole ears on the stalk in just a few weeks!) The “seed” of sin is no less prolific! You can’t sow your “wild oats” then pray for “crop failure!” (Someone right now may be smirking and saying: “I sinned and got by. No heavy grief to bear, no loss of reputation, no tarnishing of character” … BUT YOU WOULD BE WRONG! “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:9, a clear promise from God.)

Well, all that to say this … about King Manasseh of Judah.

Though he “was humbled” and repented of his many sins … and tried to make things “right” in the eyes of God and the Jewish people … his evil deeds brought a “bumper crop” of consequences nonetheless!

Let me show you what I mean, in part. “So Manasseh slept (died) with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead. Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them; and humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.”

Though “Dad” tried to “reverse” all his wrongdoings … the Son did not heed those “come-too-late” actions!

So his Boy continued in sin.

Continued in those very sins his Father had introduced (taught, modeled, maybe even encouraged by example) in front of all Judah!

I read this once, or heard it in a Semon: “That wrong thing a Parent does in moderation … a child well may do in excess!”

Wow!

Far better to not sin in the first place … than sin and repent … only to discover many followed you down the wrong path … and did not turn around (come back to God) as you did … but continued to their destruction!

It’s still wise to pray: “Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:13

Manasseh ended strong.

His Son Amon did not.

Reader, and writer today, take heed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Finally … it happens to everyone.

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

And here’s virtually all the Bible tells us about King Manasseh’s death. “So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.” 2nd Chronicles 33:20

The King lived a relatively long life, based on antiquity’s scale anyway. We even know his age at death … 67 years old. Remember, he reigned over Judah 55 years! And inherited the throne at the death of His Father Hezekiah, when the lad (Manasseh) was merely 12 years of age. “Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem.” 2nd Chronicles 33:1, inspired history.

The expression “slept with his fathers” merely means he “died,” passed away, breathed his last, expired.

Do notice that he was buried, not cremated.

God only “cremated” His enemies. Think Sodom and Gomorrah!

Many of the Kings of that noble Land were buried together, in a plot reserved for such heroes. Manasseh was NOT given this honor. His sinful life had done too much damage, I suspect.

Manasseh just rated being buried “in his own house!”

Yes, the King’s repentance was REAL … but so was the terrible carnage he left behind from decades of bold, ungodly living!

And then, as was the case in Israel (Judah) … Manasseh’s son reigned “in his stead.”

And, as we shall soon see, Amon followed in the steps of his Father. Not the “good” Manasseh, but the “evil” one!

Yes, sin does have “wages!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Lord willing, more tomorrow morning.

 

Today we study 2nd Chronicles 33:19. It’s a summary of the life of King Manasseh of Judah. “His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.”

This verse today … skillfully presents a concise overview of our protagonist:

The man’s prayer!

And how God “heard” that prayer, was persuaded by the prayer!

And why the King was praying in the first place, for forgiveness!

His egregious transgressions (now cleansed) are then listed!

Next comes his “conversion” experience condensed to a single expression, “was humbled!”

Ending with his “historical record.”

It does not take God long to examine and evaluate a life!

In fact, every single child of God will some day before Jesus, at the “Judgment Seat of Christ!”

Our lives too will be evaluated.

Paul, in 2nd Corinthians 5:10. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Yes, “all” Believers in Jesus!

And in this “do not judge” Text: “But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” Romans 14:10

No doubt!

In our 2nd Chronicles verse today both the good (how Manasseh ultimately got right with God) and the bad (his too-many-to-count sins) are revealed … about Manasseh.

With us too, our good works and bad works! (This is not to determine our salvation. Rather to gage the rewards we shall be given by our Saviour.) “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the DAY shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall RECEIVE A REWARD. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” 1st Corinthians 3:11-15, the Judgment Seat again, I believe. With the “good” being like “gold and silver and precious stones.” And the “bad” being like “wood, hay and stubble.” And Jesus’ Eyes being like “fire!”

And in this same context, our future evaluation by Jesus, Paul reverently writes: “Knowing therefore the TERROR of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” 2nd Corinthians 5:11, with the previous verse appearing up above, clearly in a “Judgment Seat of Christ” setting.

Wow!

I adapt 2nd Peter 3:11, as I close today. “Seeing then that all these things shall be …  what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?”

Good question!

Three times Paul admonished us to “walk worthy” of our Saviour.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye WALK WORTHY of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

“That ye might WALK WORTHY of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10

And: “That ye would WALK WORTHY of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.” 1st Thessalonians 2:12

God knows!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

We are nearing the end of King Manasseh’s life. But not yet the end of 2nd Chronicles chapter 33, for Manasseh’s Son (Amon) will briefly assume the Throne of Judah.

But the Holy Spirit does encapsulate (review, condense) Manasseh’s life (and death) and royal administration into 3 helpful verses. “Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers. So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.” 2nd Chronicles 33:18-20

Today, just verse 18. “Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.”

The noun “acts” is “dabar” in Hebrew. It is translated “word” (speech) 807 times in the Old Testament, and “acts” 51 more times. A dual meaning here, obviously. By the way, this teaches us that (in God’s Eyes anyway) one’s “words” basically constitute one’s “actions.” It’s like this … What I SAY is a pretty good predictor of what I’m going TO DO!

A “seer” is basically a “prophet” in Scripture, in this context. One who “sees” God’s Hand in future events. Apparently more such “preachers” warned Manasseh of his sinful ways that Scripture elsewhere records. (God working in Jeremiah 25:4 is here pertinent. “And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.” Amazing!)

Most Nations, little Judah included, have “dual” records, “parallel” histories of their deeds. And the Chronicler here so indicates such a practice.

Manasseh’s “acts” … “They are written in the book of the kings of Israel.” In 2nd Kings chapter 21, for the most part, concerning Manasseh and his son.  (The Life of our Lord Jesus is also presented in this fashion. Via 4 sets of eyes, Matthew’s and Mark’s and Luke’s and John’s. As directed by the Holy Spirit of God.)

Yes, the Bible is not fantasy or fable or “make-believe.”

It is a recording of actual events.

Even to the point Paul can later say: “Now all these things (Old Testament history) happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1st Corinthians 10:11

Plus Romans 15:4, so powerful. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime (Old Testament) were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Then the life of Manasseh says volumes!

More tomorrow, the Lord willing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Wicked King Manasseh has repented!

And has furthermore attempted to restore godly worship to Judah, his Country.

And has succeeded, to a great extent.

Yet today we read of a “compromise” in the area of “obedience” to the King, more so … obedience to the Lord! The people did NOT fully comply with the Word of God, the Mosaic Law.

“Nevertheless the people DID SACRIFICE STILL IN THE HIGH PLACES, yet unto the LORD their God only.” 2nd Chronicles 33:17

The “high places” indicate former “idol worship” locations!

“High places,” simply meaning “elevated areas” … because the ancient mind figured that was closer to the heavens, the places where their many false gods and goddesses lived (and fought and cheated and lied and died)!

If you’d like to know God’s real Feelings about those despicable “high places,” read Leviticus 26:30. “I (the Lord) will destroy your HIGH PLACES, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.” This is pretty clear, isn’t it?

So … here’s what happened in our Text today.

They (the people of Judah) worshipped the RIGHT God now. Or maybe I should say they again worshipped Him. BUT … in the vile places where they previously worshipped the heathen gods!

And the Lord was not fully pleased!

Moses (but behind Moses’ words, God Himself really) would not accept worship from (even) the wrong kind of altar! Much less a polluted sanctuary. Read with me Exodus 20:23-26. “Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. AN ALTAR OF EARTH THOU SHALT MAKE UNTO ME, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. AND IF THOU WILT MAKE ME AN ALTAR OF STONE, THOU SHALT NOT BUILD IT OF HEWN STONE: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. NEITHER SHALT THOU GO UP BY STEPS UNTO MINE ALTAR, THAT THY NAKEDNESS BE NOT DISCOVERED THEREON.”

Wow!

All those “rules” (each for a good purpose) about altars!

So, obviously, God’s prescribed altar was quite easily polluted!

Easily “profaned, desecrated,” the Hebrew verb “chalal” being used here, carefully framed in the Piel stem … meaning an intense and vigorous polluting! Especially obnoxious to the Lord!

Based on these observations, I say today’s verse presents only a partial obedience to the Lord God, our Heavenly Father. “Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.”

I say the “idols” of Manasseh’s “wild days” … though now expelled from all the Land … have still made an “impact” on Judah!

Sadly so.

God never has (still doesn’t) appreciate half-hearted Service in His name.

Paul may have stated this truth more clearly than anyone in scripture. “And whatsoever ye do, DO IT HEARTILY, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24

The expression “heartily” translated two Greek words, “ek psuche.” Meaning “out of one’s soul!” With all one’s mind! With all one’s will! With all one’s emotion!

TOTAL obedience!

Of this He is Worthy!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell