This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
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Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
2CHRONICLES
33:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
6 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.
7 And he 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:
8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your 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.
Manasseh was a very young king. This should tell us something about WHY he did "evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger."
9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
11 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.
As Manasseh continued to provoke God, the people began to follow his leadership.
14 Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.
15 And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
16 And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.
17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.
18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
19 His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.
After Manasseh was returned to Jerusalem, he began to repair the evil he had done. He took down the altars to "strange" gods, and commanded the people to worship JEHOVAH alone.
21 Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
23 And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
There is certainly not much mention of Amon here. He UNdid all that Manasseh had DONE for God.
25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.
Conspiracy and murder are evil acts. The people of Judah tried to rid the land of the evil by slaying the people who had committed the conspiracy and murder of Amon. Please continue in Bible Study with us.
CHAPTER 33
The Bible says that "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15)
It is the WAY of a child to be foolish. That is reognized by the Lord. There is also a way to CORRECT that: DISCIPLINE.
Manasseh was a very wicked king in his youth. He even set up idols in the courtyard of the temple. He also sacrificed his sons to the god Molech, a horrible act.
The Bible says in 2Kings 21:16 that Manasseh "..shed innocent blood very much..."
God had promised to be present with His people. And He was true to His promise.
God sent prophets to reprove him and them - but they would not listen.
So God sent the king of Assyria, and allowed Manasseh to be captured and carried to Babylon. There, in chains and misery, he begged for JEHOVAH God to save him.
The Bible says he "humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers" (Verse 12).
When he prayed in genuine repentance, God saved him and returned him to Jerusalem. God can organize the things of this world to TAKE us in our evil or to SAVE us from our evil!
Take notice of the last words in verse 13: "Then Manasseh KNEW that the LORD he was God."
Again, let me point out that the word "LORD," when capitalized in the Old Testament, means that it is a transcription of the word JEHOVAH. The scribes revered the name JEHOVAH too much to transcribe in most places, so they used the Hebrew word "LORD."
Therefore, it is very clear that Manasseh recognized JEHOVAH as his ONLY God.
He also built a special wall and organized the army correctly.
Although Manasseh returned to Judah as a good king, and a reformed one through repentance, he was not given the honor of being buried in the king's sepulchres. He was buried in his OWN house.
And he never repented from his evil as his father had done.
His reign only lasted two years. His servants killed him.
Perhaps Amon thought that he too would have an opportunity to repent from his evil.
This tells us that we all need to realize that THIS DAY is all God has given us. We should do all that we can for Him TODAY while we have it. We do NOT KNOW what may come tomorrow!
Josiah, at 8 years of age was installed as king. He had learned the lesson from his grandfather and father, that TODAY is all we have for the Lord. Josiah tried to do that which was RIGHT according to the Lord.