Hezekiah rules with evil ways

2 Chronicles Chapter 33

Manasseh, Hezekiah's son, became king and reigned in Jerusalem for fifty-five years. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight and imitated pagan nations and rebuilt pagan shrines. He worshipped the stars and even built a pagan altar in the Temple. He sacrificed his own sons in the fire and practiced witchcraft and sorcery.

Manasseh took a carved idol and set it up in God's temple in the very place where God had told David and his son Solomon, "My name shall be honored here forever." The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored his warnings.So the Lord sent the Assyrian armies and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose and bound him in chains and led him to Babylon. Then in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord and cried out humbly to the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened and let him return to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!

After this Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David and fortified all he cities of Judah. He removed the foreign gods and idol from the Temple. He tore down the altars and dumped them outside the city. Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace and thanksgiving offerings. He encouraged the people to worship at the Temple, but the people sacrificed at pagan shrines even though it was only to the Lord.

When Manasseh died, his son Amon became king, but he did what was evil in the Lord's sight and did not humble himself before the Lord. At last his own officials plotted against him and assassinated him in his palace. And his son Josiah became king.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: When Manasseh humbled himself and worshipped God, thepeople worshipped in the wrong way. God had told them to make sacrifices in certain places. These rules were to keep them from changing their method of worship and to protect them against the pagan practices. The people unfortunately continued to use these pagan places and did not realize they were doing something God opposed. They were mixing pagan beliefs with worship of God.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Manasseh was one of the most corrupt kings in the Bible. Yet when he realized his sins and cried out to God, God listened and forgave him. Doesn't this show you that God can forgive anyone? If you are burdened in any way, by guilt or doubt- pray to God and he will reach out and forgive you. He is all powerful. He has great mercy. He loves you!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them.
And pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Update on Marthaline Sargent. She lost her battle with health problems and passed away last Tuesday. Our condolences to her son Patrick and daughter Stacey. Continue to pray for her husband Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.