Manasseh2 Chronicles 33:1–20

2 Kings 21:1–20

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Aldof Hitler

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Joseph Stalin

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Location of Gulags

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AleksandrSolzhenitsyn

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Pol Pot

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The Killing Fields

2 Kings 21:1

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Manasseh’s Family

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2 Chronicles 33:1–9

2 Kings 21:1–9

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Manasseh’s Early Life

The kingdom of Judah, prosperous throughout the times of Hezekiah, was once more brought low during the long years of Manasseh's wicked reign,

when paganism was revived, and many of the people were led into idolatry. "Manasseh made

Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen." 2 Chronicles 33:9.

The glorious light of former generations was followed by the darkness of superstition and error. Gross evils sprang up and flourished--

tyranny, oppression, hatred of all that is good. Justice was perverted; violence prevailed.

(Prophets and Kings, p. 381)14

2 Kings 16:3 — Ahaz

Ezekiel 16:20 — Not a small thing

Isaiah 49:15 — An extreme example

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Familiar spirits: Leviticus 19:30; 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10–12

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Children Pass Through the Fire — Leviticus 18:21

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Nearly a century before, during the first Passover celebrated by Hezekiah, provision had been made for the daily public reading

of the book of the law to the people by teaching priests. It was the observance of the statutes recorded by Moses, especially those given in the book of the covenant, which forms a part of Deuteronomy, that

had made the reign of Hezekiah so prosperous.

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But Manasseh had dared set aside these statutes; and during his reign the temple

copy of the book of the law, through careless neglect, had become lost. Thus for

many years the people generally were deprived of its instruction. (Prophets and

Kings, pp. 392, 393)

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2 Chronicles 33:10–11

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The LORD Deals with Manasseh

Yet those evil times were not without witnesses for God and the right. The trying experiences

through which Judah had safely passed during Hezekiah's reign had developed, in the hearts

of many, a sturdiness of character that now served as a bulwark against the prevailing

iniquity.

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Their testimony in behalf of truth and righteousness aroused the anger of Manasseh

and his associates in authority, who endeavored to establish themselves in evil-

doing by silencing every voice of disapproval. "Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till

he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another." 2 Kings 21:16. (Prophets and Kings,

pp. 381, 382)

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One of the first to fall was Isaiah, who for over half a century had stood before Judah as the

appointed messenger of Jehovah. "Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they

wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and

caves of the earth." Hebrews 11:36-38 (Prophets and Kings, p. 382)

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Some of those who suffered persecution during Manasseh's reign were commissioned

to bear special messages of reproof and of judgment. The king of Judah, the prophets declared, "hath done wickedly above all . . .

which were before him." Because of this wickedness, his kingdom was nearing a crisis; soon the inhabitants of the land were to be

carried captive to Babylon, there to become "a prey and a spoil to all their enemies." 2 Kings

21:11, 14.

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But the Lord would not utterly forsake those who in a strange land should acknowledge Him as their Ruler; they might suffer great

tribulation, yet He would bring deliverance to them in His appointed time and way. Those who should put their trust wholly in Him

would find a sure refuge. (Prophets and Kings, p. 382)

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In the case of Manasseh the Lord gives us an instance of the way in which He works.

[2 Chronicles 33:9-13 quoted.]

The Lord has often spoken to His people in warning and reproof. He has revealed Himself in mercy, love, and kindness. He has not left His backsliding people to the will of the enemy, but has borne long with them, even during obdurate apostasy. But after appeals have been made in vain, He

prepares the rod for punishment.

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What compassionate love has been exercised toward the people of God! The Lord might have cut down in their sins those who were working at cross purposes with Him, but He has not done this. His hand is stretched out still. We have reason to offer thanksgiving to God that He has not taken His Spirit from those who have refused to walk in His way (Letter 94, 1899). (Ellen White, SDA Bible

Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1132)

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2 Chronicles 33:12–13

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Manasseh Repents

2 Chronicles 33:14–20

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Manasseh’s Revival

Prayer of Manasseh: 2 Chronicles 33:19Lord Almighty, God of our ancestors,        God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,        and their righteous children,

2] thou who hast made heaven and earthwith all their order;

[3] who hast shackled the sea by thy word of command,who hast confined the deep

and sealed it with thy terrible and glorious name;

[4] at whom all things shudder,and tremble before thy power,

[5] for thy glorious splendor cannot be borne,and the wrath of thy threat to sinners is irresistible;

[6] yet immeasurable and unsearchable is thy promised mercy,

[7] for thou art the Lord Most High,of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful,

and repentest over the evils of men.Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness

hast promised repentance and forgivenessto those who have sinned against thee;

and in the multitude of thy merciesthou hast appointed repentance for sinners,

that they may be saved.

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[8] Therefore thou, O Lord, God of the righteous,hast not appointed repentance for the righteous,

for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who did not sin against thee,but thou hast appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner.

[9] For the sins I have committed are more in numberthan the sand of the sea;

my transgressions are multiplied, O Lord, they are multiplied!I am unworthy to look up and see the height of heaven

because of the multitude of my iniquities.

[10] I am weighted down with many an iron fetter,so that I am rejected because of my sins,

and I have no relief;for I have provoked thy wrath

and have done what is evil in thy sight,setting up abominations and multiplying offenses.

[11] And now I bend the knee of my heart,beseeching thee for thy kindness.

[12] I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned,and I know my transgressions.

[13] I earnestly beseech thee,forgive me, O Lord, forgive me!

Do not destroy me with my transgressions!Do not be angry with me for ever or lay up evil for me;

do not condemn me to the depths of the earth.For thou, O Lord, art the God of those who repent,

[14] and in me thou wilt manifest thy goodness;for, unworthy as I am, thou wilt save me in thy great mercy,

[15] and I will praise thee continually all the days of my life.For all the host of heaven sings thy praise,

and thine is the glory for ever. Amen.

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Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath,

wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that

Manasseh had provoked him withal.

2 Kings 23:26

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The Results ofManasseh’s Sin

Among those whose life experience had been shaped beyond recall by the fatal apostasy of Manasseh, was his own son, who came to the

throne at the age of twenty-two. Of King Amon it is written: "He walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his

father served, and worshiped them: and he forsook the Lord God of his fathers" (2 Kings 21:21, 22); he "humbled not himself before the

Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more."

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The wicked king was not permitted to reign long. In the midst of his daring impiety, only two years from the time he ascended the throne, he was slain in the palace by his own servants; and

"the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead." 2 Chronicles 33:23, 25.

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