Monday, 26 May 2008 00:00  |  Written by Alastair McLay and posted in Manasseh

Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king, and he was king for 55 years in Jerusalem. 2 Kings 21:1

What 12 year old boy hasn’t dreamed of being a king? Free sweets for everyone, and no school...except maybe every second Wednesday. But being a king is a serious business. You’re the man, the one everyone wants to follow, the ultimate trend setter.

Manasseh is beginning his stint as the Bible’s longest reigning king. What will he do with this great opportunity God has given him?

Tuesday, 27 May 2008 00:00  |  Written by Alastair McLay and posted in Manasseh

He did what the Lord said was wrong. He did the hateful things the other nations had done - the nations that the Lord had forced out of the land ahead of the Israelites…. Manasseh led the people to do more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed. 2 Kings 21:2 & 9

God wanted his people to stand out from everyone else. Manasseh certainly made that happen - but I think he’d missed the point! Under his leadership Judah became more wicked than any of the other nations round about. Not quite what the Lord had in mind. If you’re hoping to get noticed as a Christian - try and make sure it’s for the right things!

Wednesday, 28 May 2008 00:00  |  Written by Alastair McLay and posted in Manasseh

Manasseh’s father, Hezekiah, had destroyed the places where gods were worshipped, but Manasseh rebuilt them. He built altars for Baal, and he made an Asherah idol as Ahab, king of Israel, had done. 2 Kings 21:3

Manasseh wasn’t the first (or last) person to think his church needed some radical changing. But his approach was a little extreme! Out went the worship of God. In came all the pagan practices his father had abolished – which included amongst other things child sacrifices! He led his people further and further away from the Lord.

Marks out of ten so far? Hmmm…

Thursday, 29 May 2008 00:00  |  Written by Alastair McLay and posted in Manasseh

Manasseh did many things the Lord said were wrong, which made the Lord angry. 2 Kings 21:6

We don’t like to think of God being angry with us - but he was angry with Manasseh here. The king seemed to be aiming for the Guiness Book of World Records entry: ‘Most Evil Acts Committed in a Lifetime.’ I mean, we all make mistakes, but this was just deliberate wickedness. Is there any way back for him? Fortunately God’s anger wasn’t his last word to Manasseh, nor is it ever his last word to us.

Friday, 30 May 2008 00:00  |  Written by Alastair McLay and posted in Manasseh

The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they did not listen. So the Lord brought the king of Assyria’s army commanders to attack Judah. They captured Manasseh… and took him to Babylon. 2 Chronicles 33:10-11

God gave the people ample opportunity to stop their evil practices, child sacrifices and social injustices and to choose his way of life of loving both him and their fellow human. However, the people stubbornly refused to listen to God’s words of correction and warning and continued their evil. Consequently, God brings trouble to help get their attention and to cause them to reflect on their lifestyles.

Saturday, 31 May 2008 00:00  |  Written by Alastair McLay and posted in Manasseh

As Manasseh suffered, he begged the Lord his God for help and humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. When Manasseh prayed, the Lord heard him and had pity on him. 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

Found out! Manasseh prays in desperation - we’ve all done it. Amazingly, the Lord takes pity on him. God’s compassion is always greater than his anger. That’s the good news we call the gospel. Manasseh’s life shows us that there’s always a way back to God no matter how far you’ve wandered. Do you know someone who needs to hear that today?

Sunday, 01 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Alastair McLay and posted in Manasseh

Manasseh removed the idols of other nations, including the idol in the Temple of the Lord and he threw them out of the city… and told the people of Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 33:15-16

Manasseh had the longest reign of any king in the Bible. Sadly, even though he repented and changed, Manasseh would be remembered by the people as the worst king of Judah (the book of 2 Kings doesn’t even record his repentance). Manasseh’s story demonstrates that God wants even the most evil person to repent and be known by him as a child of God.