April 1, 2025, 2 Kings 21:10-18

 April 1, 2025, 2 Kings 21:10-18

10  And the LORD said by his servants the prophets,  11  “Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done things more evil than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols,  12  therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such disaster that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.  13  And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.  14  And I will forsake the remnant of my heritage and give them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies,  15  because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.” 16  Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he made Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 17  Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?  18  And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

 

These verses share that Manasseh, king of Judah, was wicked,  a murderer, committed adultery, worshipped idols and more.  Not only was he a poor example to his people, but he led his people astray.  Speaking through his Servants and prophets, God shared His wrath would not be spared and he would destroy Jerusalem and its people and they would be forsaken. 

 

The consequences of sin and straying from God’s way are real.  Are you striving to remain faithful even in the midst of troubles and adversity?  God’s justice sometimes means punishment, but his love, mercy and grace are quick to forgive when we seek forgiveness.  He will restore when we seek Him.   

Who is watching you that you might influence for God or away from God? What can you do to always point people toward God so they can experience His glory for themselves?

 

Robin Adams