Because of the wicked things Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem, I will make my people an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. ~Jeremiah 15:4 NLT

B.C. 698 – 2 Chronicles 33

King Manasseh is described as a ruler who followed the pagan practices of the countries surrounding Judah.

1. He rebuilt shrines, idols, and altars to pagan gods that his father, King Hezekiah had destroyed.
2. He built pagan altars in the very Temple of the Lord.
3. He sacrificed his own sons in the fires of Ben-Hinnom.
4. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft.
5. He consulted with mediums and psychics.
6. Manasseh even carved his own idol and set it up in God’s Temple.
7. He murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled with blood from end to end.
8. He led the people to do even more evil than the original residents of Canaan.
9. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he was pompous, too.  He defied Jehovah every way possible.

Jehovah promised that if the people and king obeyed His law they would be spared from exile judgement. When God’s warnings fell upon deaf ears, He sent the Assyrians back to Judah.  This time they took King Manasseh prisoner.  They put a ring through his nose and led him back to Babylon in chains.  From the life of a proud and powerful king to that of a conquered slave led around by the nose …

Yes, Jehovah finally had Manasseh’s attention!  But unlike his father, King Hezekiah, Manasseh humbled himself and repented before God.

And when he prayed, the LORD listened to him and was moved by his request. So the LORD brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the LORD alone is God! ~ 2 Chronicles 33:13 NLT

So we see that the basic difference between this father and son is that King Hezekiah is a picture of today’s church – indifferent, proud, and wealthy.

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ~ II Timothy 3:5 (KJV)

Jesus rebuked a church like this – the Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22).  Jesus described it as one of the seven churches that is neither cold nor hot and is pompously wealthy.

“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” ~ Rev. 3:17 NLT

I think Hezekiah possibly went to his grave in a prideful state.  Manasseh, on the other hand, had a genuine change of heart.  When Manasseh prayed for forgiveness and humbled himself, God extended grace and gave him a second chance.  Jehovah not only freed Manasseh, but restored Manasseh to his kingdom.

What did Manasseh do then?

Well, he did a lot so it’s going to take another post.  While I get busy writing that, God bless you all and thank you for following