The Story - Chapter 17 - 2 Kings 21, 23-25

As we leave the reign of King Hezekiah behind and begin the study of his son, Manasseh, we are once again faced with evil. It is written that Manasseh was off the scale in wickedness. I can’t begin to imagine what it may have been like to live in those days, to live in fear, trembling at what could be waiting around the corner.

2 Kings 21:16 (NIV) 
"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."

It would seem the rule of Manasseh was a blood-bath of sorts. Verse eleven says, "Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins." I am making such a point of the fact that his time as king was a repugnant and shocking time in history because we will learn that Manasseh repented. We might consider it an eleventh-hour decision, but isn't this what God is all about? Isn't it just like our loving God, to go chasing after us until we stop and realize we are at the end of the road.

God pursues us, gets in our faces and stares us down; He offers one opportunity after another to do the next right thing. Some of us might not hold much stock in such desperate heart changes, but God does. We have been reading for over 16 weeks now about His unconditional love for us, I pray it is beginning to sink in.

As I prepare to face a fresh tomorrow, it fills me with comfort to know that I am forgiven and don’t need to carry the shadow of yesterday’s blunders into the bright sun light of today.

Read 2 Kings 21, 23-25 here

Listen to 2 Kings 21, 23-25 here