Second Chronicles 33 Commentary
Godly children coming from ungodly parents; and godly parents producing ungodly offspring – it’s a mystery of life. Like begets like; it wasn’t to be for Hezekiah and his son Manasseh. Manasseh would go in history as the worst king of Judah. It is a mystery that the LORD allowed him to rule for such a long time.
It is indeed a very low point for Judah. Here is the nation that was chosen to carry the banner of righteousness. And through Israel, the nations were to receive their blessings. Not only has Israel gone flat on her mandate, but she has also placed herself under the same judgment as of the deposed nations.
Many people have questioned the justice of Heaven in allowing Israel to wipe out, or totally destroy the Canaanites. Well, here you have it: it’s Israel’s turn to test the judgment of the LORD because they have beaten the wickedness record of the Canaanites.
Shackled and hooked in his nose, the wicked Manasseh is taken to Babylon as a prisoner of war. None of the many gods that he worshipped comes to his rescue. Could this be the moment when Manasseh realizes just how foolish it is to serve useless gods? This chapter is speaking to us today who want to bask in evil thinking the useless gods can save us. When the Creator God swings the sword, these gods will not save anyone. They have never saved anyone. Check it for yourself.
“Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” Could there be any sin in the book that Manasseh didn’t commit?
This chapter holds great value for someone who thinks their sin is too great to be forgiven. Manasseh cried out to the LORD in repentance and the LORD heard him.
Manasseh and his son Ammon have given credibility to the saying that like begets like. Ammon is as evil as his father, but without the humility to repent. His reign is very short. It is impossible to read the mind of someone who knows the end from the beginning. And when you combine into one the conflicting attributes of justice and compassion, the impossible becomes even more impossible.
But the reader is encouraged to examine themselves against these standards here. Both sinners should be hooked. On account of repentance, one escapes but the other goes in. You easily understand why the LORD Jesus came preaching repentance and the forgiveness of sins. It is very important in the equation of life. This is easier to understand and it is actually doable.
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