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

 

Things have gone from “bad” to “worse!”

King Manasseh ruled Judah for 55 years, most of that time as a “sycophant” of the great Assyrian Empire. Merely a “figurehead,” Manasseh, son of the great Hezekiah, Grandfather of the great Josiah!

Now I realize Manasseh was under “pressure.” To “conform” to Assyrian whims. Or he could lose his whole Kingdom, you know! He just had to (he felt) change the old-fashioned ways of Judaism, trading them for the more contemporary ways of Heathenism.

Political expedience, they still call it.

And the Assyrians were BIG on worship of the stars.

Thus we read in today’s Verse: “And he (Manasseh) built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.” 2nd Chronicles 33:5

The expression “host of heaven” means all the gods and goddesses represented by the various stars, comets, constellations, and other “signs” of the skies.

An “altar” is a place (generally) where “sacrifices” are made (blood literally shed) in the name of and for the honor of some (so-called) god. The Hebrew “root” word for “altar” means “to kill, slaughter.”

Bad enough to place these things in Monotheistic Israel (worshippers of One God) … in violation of everything the Old Testament has taught … BUT TO PUT THEM IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD … was absolutely blasphemous!

“Altars” … plural do notice … placed in both the outer court and the inner court of the Temple! Solomon’s great edifice constructed for the Glory of Jehovah God!

I am not saying that Manasseh outlawed worship of Almighty God. I am saying he “mixed” such worship with that of many other gods and goddesses. Blended many “faiths,” a sort of modern day “pluralism!”

Oh, how that sin continues in our time!

Paul was still warning us of this malady in 2nd Corinthians, centuries after Manasseh’s debacle. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

And: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Wow!

Readers here today, STAY TRUE TO GOD!

TO HIM ALONE.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today we continue to look at the downward spiral of King Manasseh of Judah. Only son of godly King Hezekiah. (Although Hezekiah did seem to weaken spiritually the last 15 years of his life!) Our Text will be 2nd Chronicles 33:4 which is virtually a repetition of 2nd Kings 21:4.

The Chronicler first: “Also he (Manasseh) built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.”

Now the historian of the Kings: “And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.”

God’s House, the Temple of Israel, was divinely designed to have just 2 altars. One near its front entrance made of brass. Another deep in its interior, made of gold. Both served legitimate (beautiful) spiritual purposes. Taught valuable lessons on living for God.

But Manasseh, influenced by the powerful nations around him (heathen Assyria being primary) … wanted TO ADD a touch of “politically correct” contemporary idol worship to the scene!

More than one god now is being acknowledged in the Holy Temple!

It’s a wonder God did not “kill” him on the spot!

A King, trying to keep up with the times!

Or trying to satisfy everybody!

Or trying to ward off “pressure” from his political “bosses!” (Yes, Judah then was basically a tributary nation, overrun by the Assyrian empire. Merely a vassal state. And Manasseh compromised … to stay in some good favor with his conquerors!)

He “sold out” to the “establishment.”

He introduced “competition” to Almighty God!

In a Place where God had explicitly stated: “In Jerusalem will I put my name.”

The Same God Who had earlier commanded: “I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 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 20:2-5

So sad! “Also he (Manasseh) built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.”

Yet today the same thing is being done in many places!

What once was old-fashioned worship of the True God of the Ages has now been diluted to be merely a “One among many” theology. What do we call it now, “pluralism?” Broad mindedness? Lack of prejudice? An “unbiased” Worldview?

How about calling it … “selling out” the God Who saved us?

Let us rededicate ourselves to the exclusive, never bending position that avers: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:9

None like Him!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell