Week 21 2 Chronicles 33
I know I have to get-a-grip when I come to Manasseh and the reason’s simple: I don’t like him.
Anyway I review his reign:
He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight
Manasseh murdered many innocent people
He imitated traditional pagan religious practice. Rebuilt pagan shrines that Hezekiah had demolished. Rebuilt images of Baal. Set up Asherah poles. Practiced astrology. Set up pagan altars in the temple. Sacrificed his son. Practiced sorcery divination witchcraft and consulted mediums & psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight
Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do even more evil than the pagan nations whom God had destroyed.
He pretty much undid everything good that his dad had done.
But there’s a fly-in-the-ointment of Evil Manasseh’s story. The Assyrians defeated Judah and took the king into captivity. But while he was in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and cried out humbly to the Lord…and when he prayed the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request for help. Unbelievable!
When Manasseh was released he returned to Jerusalem and tried to undo what he had done. And he encouraged the people of Judah to worship the Lord.
I don’t like Manasseh. But I guess credit has to be given where credit is due.
Note: quotes from 2 Chronicles 33:2 2 Kings 21:16 2 Chronicles 33:6 9 12-13 16 (NLT)