January 8, 2008

Reflections on the Scriptures (Second Chronicles 33:1-13)
Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-five years. He did evil in the sight of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to all the Baals, and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to the starry hosts and worshipped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said "My name will remain in Jerusalem forever." In both the courts and the temple of the Lord he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his sons in the fire of the valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger. He put the carved image he had made and put it in the God's temple, of which the God had said to David and to his son, Solomon, "In this temple and in Jerusalem which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel I will put my name forever. I will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land I assigned to your forefathers, if only they will be careful to do everything I command them concerning all the laws, decrees, and ordinances given through Moses." But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Israel astray, so that they did more evil that the nations before the Israelites. The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. In his distress, he sought the favor of the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to Him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

Reflection: I've got problems, but I'm really glad I'm not that guy (or one of his sons).