Manassah And Amon’s Reign
April 10, 2020
Commentary
The Southern Kingdom was to be ruled by six kings (five bad and one good) before the end would come. Manasseh’s reign began when, as a youngster of twelve, he was placed on the throne as a co-ruler with his father Hezekiah. His reign lasted for 55 years which was the longest reign of any Jewish king but he failed to follow the godly example of his father.
All that Hezekiah had reformed, Manasseh reinstated. From the description of his detestable practices it seems that no vile practice of the heathen was excluded. He even built altars to idols right in the temple and its courtyards. Under his leadership Judah became more heathen than the peoples the Israelites had destroyed under the leadership of Moses and Joshua (vv. 9-11).
Manasseh sacrificed his own son to the Ammonite God Molech (v. 6) and probably many more who opposed his religious policies (v. 16). According to Jewish tradition, the prophet Isaiah was “sown asunder” by him (Heb. 11:37). The record in Chronicles reports that Manasseh for his sins was taken captive to Babylon. While there he repented of his sins and God in His grace allowed him to return to Jerusalem. The restored king then cleaned the house of the Lord and removed many of the pagan altars, however the “high places” as many times before were allowed to remain as places of worship (2 Chron. 33:l0-17).
When he died he was succeeded by his son Amon who only reigned two years and was assassinated. He had learned only his father’s evil ways.
Application
When people do not carefully observe the distinction between good and evil, destruction soon follows. If I do not take God’s Word, the Bible, as my standard, soon my moral choices will appear fuzzy.
Isaiah 5:8– 25 (NET)
8 Beware, those who accumulate houses, who also accumulate field after field until there is no land left, and you are the only landowners remaining within the land.
9 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies told me this: “Many houses will certainly become desolate, large, impressive houses will have no one living in them.
10 Indeed, a large vineyard will produce just a few gallons, and enough seed to yield several bushels will produce less than a bushel.”
11 Beware, those who get up early to drink beer, those who keep drinking long after dark until they are intoxicated with wine.
12 They have stringed instruments, tambourines, flutes, and wine at their parties. So they do not recognize what the Lord is doing, they do not perceive what he is bringing about.
13 Therefore my people will be deported because of their lack of understanding. Their leaders will have nothing to eat, their masses will have nothing to drink.
14 So Death will open up its throat, and open wide its mouth; Zion’s dignitaries and masses will descend into it, including those who revel and celebrate within her.
15 Men will be humiliated, they will be brought low; the proud will be brought low.
16 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted when he punishes, the holy God’s authority will be recognized when he judges.
17 Lambs will graze as if in their pastures, amid the ruins the rich sojourners will graze.
18 Beware, those who pull evil along using cords of emptiness are as good as dead, who pull sin as with cart ropes.
19 They say, “Let him hurry, let him act quickly, so we can see; let the plan of the Holy One of Israel take shape and come to pass, then we will know it!”
20 Beware, those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter.
21 Beware, those who think they are wise, those who think they possess understanding.
22 Beware, those who are champions at drinking, who display great courage when mixing strong drinks.
23 They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff, they ignore the just cause of the innocent.
24 Therefore, as flaming fire devours straw, and dry grass disintegrates in the flames, so their root will rot, and their flower will blow away like dust. For they have rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, they have spurned the commands of the Holy One of Israel.
25 So the Lord is furious with his people; he lifts his hand and strikes them. The mountains shake, and corpses lie like manure in the middle of the streets. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.
Illustration: The Results of Leaving God Out of Our Lives
Leaving God out of our lives allows sin to come into them. He wants us to enjoy life (l Timothy 6:l7) but to avoid those activities that could lead us away from Him. A few years ago a friend of mine in the ministry left his family and started living in immorality and doing the very things he had preached against for many years. In clearing out his office, pornographic literature and films were discovered. This is the type of thing being warned about in this passage. (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).