Monday, October 28, 2013

Manasseh’s Latter Reign

II Kings 21:17-18, II Chronicles 33:14-18

“And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.” (II Chronicles 33:12-13) 

In prison in Babylon, Manasseh finally turned back to God, asking forgiveness, and praying.  God answered those prayers, and enabled him to return to Jerusalem.  Instead of being the God of his ancesters, he made God his own.  Though he had grown up in a godly home, like many children raised in religious homes, he had never had a personal relationship with God.

“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. ” (II Chronicles 33:14)

Returning from Babylon, Manasseh reinforced the fortifications around Jerusalem, and raising the walls of the garrison at Ophel high enough to give the defenders an advantage in case of attack.  He also put experienced officers in charge of all the fortifications across Judah, rather than leaving them in control of political leaders.

“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.  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.” (II Chronicles 33:15-16) 

In the early part of his reign, Manasseh had tried to stamp out all worship of God, turning the temple into a house of idolatry and abandoning all the original implements devoted to God.  After his return from Babylon, he reversed the process, removing all the idols, repairing the temple and restoring the old worship of God that his father had practiced.  He commanded the people to serve God.

“Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.” (II Chronicles 33:17)

Like many of the kings in Judah before him, Manasseh ordered the people to serve God, and as happened in every case, they just went underground with the idolatry and false religion.  Making rules to force people to do what is right usually results in an attitude of rebellion instead.  The only king who hadn’t had this problem was Hezekiah, who, rather than issuing and order, met with the people and sought a commitment from them.  It is the difference between a leader and a dictator.

 “Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?” (II Kings 21:17) 

“His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sins, 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.” (II Chronicles 33:19)

Far more detailed official records were kept, as were numerous writings of various prophets during the period, but most are not included in scripture as they have little relevance to other peoples or to God's plan.

“And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.” (II Kings 21:18) 

Rather than being buried in the official royal cemetery or one of the private cemeteries, Manasseh was buried in his own yard.

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