II Kings 21:19- 26, II Chronicles 33:21-25
“Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did.
And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them: And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD.” (II Kings 21:19-22)
Manasseh had ignored how God blessed Hezekiah and had gone against God, reinstituting the idols and nature worship Hezekiah had eliminated, and converting the nation to false religion. As a result he had been taken to Babylon as a prisoner. While there, he changed his mind and turned to the Lord. He spent the last several years of his life serving God, destroying the idols he had made and trying to turn Judah back to God. His reign was blessed even though they were subject to Assyrian rule.
Amon ignored his fathers experience, encouraging the idolatry and nature worship Manasseh had spent the last few years of his life trying to destroy. In just two years time he had gone as far as Manasseh had ever gone.
“And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.” (II Chronicles 33:23)
Amon had heard the stories of his father’s captivity and seen how God blessed him when he turned to God. He could not claim ignorance, either of his sin, or of the benefits of serving God. His actions were deliberate and God only put up with his behavior for two years.
“And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.” (II Kings 21:23)
Leadership's attitude establishes the attitude of the followers, and after just two years, his personal servants rebelled against him and murdered him at home.
“And 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.” (II Kings 21:24)
The rebellion was just by Amon’s own servants and was not popularly supported. The people executed the conspirators and made Josiah king in his place.
“Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.” (II Kings 21:25-26)
Amon was buried in the same garden as Manasseh, rather than in the royal cemetery with the great kings, but he was not as hated as some had been.
“Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did.
And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them: And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD.” (II Kings 21:19-22)
Manasseh had ignored how God blessed Hezekiah and had gone against God, reinstituting the idols and nature worship Hezekiah had eliminated, and converting the nation to false religion. As a result he had been taken to Babylon as a prisoner. While there, he changed his mind and turned to the Lord. He spent the last several years of his life serving God, destroying the idols he had made and trying to turn Judah back to God. His reign was blessed even though they were subject to Assyrian rule.
Amon ignored his fathers experience, encouraging the idolatry and nature worship Manasseh had spent the last few years of his life trying to destroy. In just two years time he had gone as far as Manasseh had ever gone.
“And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.” (II Chronicles 33:23)
Amon had heard the stories of his father’s captivity and seen how God blessed him when he turned to God. He could not claim ignorance, either of his sin, or of the benefits of serving God. His actions were deliberate and God only put up with his behavior for two years.
“And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.” (II Kings 21:23)
Leadership's attitude establishes the attitude of the followers, and after just two years, his personal servants rebelled against him and murdered him at home.
“And 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.” (II Kings 21:24)
The rebellion was just by Amon’s own servants and was not popularly supported. The people executed the conspirators and made Josiah king in his place.
“Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.” (II Kings 21:25-26)
Amon was buried in the same garden as Manasseh, rather than in the royal cemetery with the great kings, but he was not as hated as some had been.
It is sad when children do not learn from the mistakes of their parents, but instead follow in their footsteps. How important it is for us to set a Godly example for our children!
ReplyDeleteThanks as always for the great post, & God bless,
Laurie
Unfortunately they often learn our attitudes before we learn what the consequences are.
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