Today we are reading 2 Kings 21. In this chapter we read about the wickedness of Manasseh. “Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.” 2 Kings 21:1-6 ESV Can you imagine how horrible life would be under Manasseh? He wasn’t just apathetic about God, he aggressively pursued false gods and facilitated and participated in worshipping them. All authorities are established by God but not to do evil. Those who make laws promoting and defending immorality will be accountable to God. I wonder, why did God allow this wicked king to rule 55 years? Why do wicked and corrupt people come to power at all? In the end, we must speak the word of God to this generation and stand against everything that is wicked in God’s sight. Pastor Tim
