2 Kings 21

Manasseh was the son of Hezekiah. His father was a great king who led the nation in courageous and necessary reforms. But now his son, over a very lengthy time in power, brought all the paganism back to Judah that Hezekiah had worked so hard to remove.

Remember that Israel was the Promised Land. It was not to be a country of religious pluralism. It was supposed to be a display to the world of what life could be like when the people of God loved the Lord with their whole being. This vision was incompatible with the worship of false gods.

Hezekiah and his son Manasseh did not share the same religious passions. The father's life was commended and the son's was plainly condemned. There was more to the story of Manasseh than what we have recorded here, but we need to deal with that information when we come to the end of 2 Chronicles. For now it is important for us to see that Manasseh led the people of Judah into religious and moral depravity. As a king over God's people, Manasseh “... led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.”

The Lord was not silent concerning the failures of Manasseh. Because of his leadership the time for the destruction of Jerusalem was drawing ever nearer. After Manasseh died, his son, Amon, reigned in his place. Amon was no better than his father. But then after his reign of only two years, the son of Amon became king in Judah. This new king, Josiah, would be one of the greatest kings in the history of God's people.

It would be wrong for us to minimize the importance of the obedience of the ruler over God's people. Our understanding that both Hezekiah and Manasseh were sinners and in need of God's grace does not mean that we cannot see a moral distinction between these two men.

Nonetheless, it would also be a great mistake for us to ignore the fact that great kings like Hezekiah and Josiah knew that they themselves were in desperate need of the Lord's mercy. This is one of the marks of those who have been touched by the grace of God. They are able to sing Psalm 51 with sincere hearts, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”

Manasseh and his son were a disaster for Judah and for the city of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 15:4 says that judgment would come upon Judah, “... because of what Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.”

A great king knows his need for the perfect Messiah King. He looks in hope to the day of His coming. An evil king ignores God's law with impunity for decade upon decade and may still suppose that he needs no Substitute to take away his sins.

The true life of faith and obedience is clear enough. Our lives do make a difference. We need to hear the Voice of God and obey. May God grant us the humility to acknowledge our eternal debt to Jesus Christ and to embrace Him as the sinless King who saves sinners. May He also grant us hearts that are more eager to hear the Word of God and obey it.