Like Father Unlike Son

Dear class,

Today the readings from OT are taken from 2 Kings 21:1-18; 2 Chronicles 33:1-20; 2 Kings 21:19-26; 2 Chronicles 33:21-25

We read of king Manasseh, the son of the great king Hezekiah. Immediately one notices the great contrast. While his father "clave to the Lord" and was written of as "after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him." (2Ki 18:5,6), this son of Belial went to the other extreme, even to "do more evil than did the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel." (2Ki 21:9)!

What went wrong? Didn't Manasseh have a perfect example? Or perhaps it was due to the fact that Manasseh was born in the days of Hezekiah's decline (since he was only 12 when Manasseh started to reign). One also wonders if Manasseh was Hezekiah's favourite son (of old age? c.f.Jacob and Joseph - Gen 37:3) even to the extent that he would appoint such a young lad to kingship, despite the possible lack of desirable qualities? The bible is silent on this and it's best for us to leave it as that.
What we do know is that as a result of Hezekiah's pride in his last days, God had foretold through the prophet Isaiah that the kingdom would fall to Babylon (2Ki 20:16-18). Indeed, after Hezekiah, Judah started her steady decline from which the kingdom would not recover. Manasseh certainly had a major role in it, not only detracting from God's law but even "championing" the religion of the heathen!
But what's most important in his example, the silver lining in the cloud, so to speak, is Manasseh's ultimate repentance. After 55 years of wasted life, Manasseh finally got his just deserts, and in his affliction, the bible tells us "he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers," (2Chr 33:12). He was subsequently restored and sought God all the rest of his life.

God is merciful! There is hope for the truly repentant. As David penned, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psa 51:17) This is a classic case of "godly sorrow" working repentance. (2Co 7:10) As pointed out in the sermon by bro Philip, Manasseh was one who was greatly sorrowful and repentant AND WORKED upon it to make right with God.

At one point or another, we will fall, be it great or small. What's important is for us to humble ourselves, lean ever closer to God and make it right again and He is faithful to restore us. (Jam 4:10; 1Jn 1:9)

The Lord bless our day ahead.

in Him
Paul

--

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ~ John 17:17

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. ~ John 20:30,31