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THE LESSONS THAT MANASSEH HAD TO LEARN.

II CHRONICLES 33

Outline By; Rev. Daniel K. Corbett

Introduction:

I. THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM; THIS IS THE FIRST LESSON THAT MANASSEH HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY.

[Background; God had granted Hezekiah, the father of Manasseh, an extra 15 years of life. Manasseh was born in that period. Manasseh had been alive when Hezekiah sought the Lord and the Assyrian Army was destroyed in one night by an angel of the Lord.]

A. If We Truly Fear The Lord; We Will Not Worship Anyone Else. vv. 1-9

1. if we fear God we know that He is omnipotent. vs. 3

“Baalim” - Baal in all his various forms and appearances. “groves” -- Asheras, the licentious worship of the consort/sister of Baal in any of several forms.

2. if we fear God we realize that the future is in His hand. vs. 5,6

· the hose of heaven=astrology

· he observed times=the patterns of clouds and the movements of snakes

· used enchantments=charms

· witchcraft=muttering incantations and spells

· a familiar spirit=necromancy

“he wrought much evil” literally; “he multiplied doing the evil.”

All of these devices are meant to enable the user to foresee and control events and people.

3. if we fear God we respect His gift of life. vs. 6

“Caused his children to pass through the fire.” This is the worship of Molech, who demanded young human sacrifice to be burn alive. Ellicott tells us that the plural here is rhetorical.

Illustration: Contrast the attitude of Joseph when speaking with his brothers; “…Fear not: for am I in the place of God?” Genesis 50:19

4. if we fear God we will give no other the worship that He alone is due. vs.7

The image is likely an “Asherah” that he had specially made.

Illustration: most surviving statuettes are ugly and lewd. Other representations are openly sexual.

The great favor of being the chosen people, and being the dwelling place where God would manifest Himself on earth was treated like rubbish by bringing this idol into his courts. Illustration: Remember what happened to Dagon when the Philistines brought the ark into their god’s temple.

5. if we fear God we will keep His commandments. vs. 8

“according to the whole law…”

6. if we fear God we will never want to lead His other children astray. vs.9

“Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” I Cor. 8:13

Note: “The source of all these modes of soothsaying was Babylon.” Ellicott

There is much of Babylon in our life and our country today.

Illustration: Anti-war demonstrators in Berkley, Calif. hired witches to put a curse on a Marine recruiting station.

Like Manasseh, many today will gladly seek help from any and all strange religions and cults rather than hear the simple word of the Lord. They are like the Pharaoh of the Exodus who told Moses; “Who is the LORD that I should obey Him?”

Manasseh is simply enthralled with the flood of foreign religions emanating from Babylon. Therefore, God will shortly send Manasseh to Babylon that he might experience this worship first-hand. Instead of passing innocent children through literal fire, he himself will be put through the fire of what was evidently some form of torture.

Manasseh couldn’t see that the sanitized forms of false worship he practiced, controlled by sensibilities that came from God’s word, were only watered-down imitations of real evil. He is about to learn. How many in our nation practice sanitized forms of eastern religions and other non-Christian religions? What would happen if they could see it in all of its oppressive, bitter, despotic evil. Illustration: the caste system of Hinduism. The forms of Hinduism practiced by wealthy debutants is nothing like the reality.

B. If We Truly Fear The Lord, We Will Obey His Word. vv. 10,11.

1. the obedient child of God will treasure God’s word.

A parallel passage in II Kings 21: 10-15 tells us that the word of the Lord came “By the hand of his servants the prophets." Then it is added that; “Manasseh also shed very much innocent blood, …till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to the other.” See how the faithful remnant are treated when they bring the king the word of the Lord. Illustration: Tradition tells us that the aged prophet Jeremiah was slaughtered in this purge.

2. the obedient child of God will not provoke God to anger.

Note verse 6 of this chapter.

Note: The child of God who will not obey God’s word is in for a great deal of trouble. Illustration: Shame on the charismatics and the “name it and claim it” crowd. God does punish His children. Apparent evil and misery may be just what God has ordered for us. What arrogance to stand in the place of God and determine what is good and what is evil.

Illustration: There are existing cuneiform Assyrian texts that mention Manasseh and this event. “And I assembled the kings of the land of Hatti, and the marge of the sea, Baal king of Tyre, Me-na-si-e (or Mi-in-si-e) king of Yaudi (i.e. Judah),… all of them I caused to hasten .” (Italics and underlining added; hear the arrogance and pride in these words. In reality it is God who is the cause.)

Note: “among the thorns” – ‘with the hooks’ – “The hooks might be such as the Assyrian kings were wont to pass through the nostrils and lips of their more distinguished prisoners.” Satan puts the hook into many noses and lips by causing them to refuse the word of God.

II. IF WE WOULD UNDO OUR DISOBEDIENCE AND PLEASE GOD IT IS DIFFICULT WORK THAT REQUIRES A STRINGENT THOROUGHNESS; THIS IS THE SECOND LESSON THAT MANASSEH HAD TO LEARN. (WE FEAR THAT THIS LESSON WAS NOT LEARNED WELL.)

A. A Lesson That Begins With Affliction. vs. 12a.

Why, oh why, do we force God to afflict us before we call upon His name? At least Manasseh was better than many. There are those who when afflicted of God only grow more calloused, and resentful, and morose, and determined to continue in their sinful ways.

“Schrader…thinks that Manasseh was at least suspected of being implicated along with the other princes of Phonecia-Palestine in the revolt of Assurbanipal’s brother Samar-sum-ukin (circ. 648-647 BC.)…he was carried to Babylon, to clear himself of suspicion, and to give assurances of his fidelity to the great king.” Ellicott

If the above speculation is true, and I believe it most likely is, then we can easily imagine torture being used to extract “testimony” from Manasseh. The Oriental cultures of this time, and especially the Assyrians, had a penchant for physical punishment. The Romans expected any evidence from a slave to be taken by torture. I do not think that the Assyrian king would hesitate for one moment to apply the lash, and the hot irons, and more hooks.

B. A Lesson That Grows With Concentration. vs. 12b.

“…the God of his fathers,” “…whom he had forsaken for the gods of aliens…” Ellicott

C. A Lesson That Reveals The Great Mercy Of Our Loving Heavenly Father. vs. 13.

“…he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication,…”

Ephesians 2: 8,9 re: salvation / I John 1:9 re: confession of sin and forgiveness

D. A Lesson That Activates The Sovereign Hand Of God. vs. 13b.

“and brought him again to Jerusalem…”