38 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
38 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
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title = "2 Chronicles 33:10–20"
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date = "2025-07-23"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/2Chronicles33.10-20)
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But Manasseh's story is also one of hope.
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Manasseh did great evil before the Lord, leading the nation to all kinds of unrighteousness.
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The Lord spoke to the king and the people (Through prophets or visions? We don't know), but they did not listen to Him.
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So the Lord raised up the Assyrian army again to attack Judah, and Manasseh was captured and taken to Babylon.
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At this time, Babylon was a vassal state of Assyria, though that situation would change in the next hundred years.
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While in captivity, Manasseh "humbled himself greatly" by entreating the Lord to do good to him again.
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He repented of his sins and trusted in the Lord to save him.
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Sound familiar?
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We must keep in mind that our own sins are very great, just like Manasseh's.
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Child sacrifice to the gods of wealth and self are rampant today.
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We chase after things and ideas that promise success and pleasure but do not satisfy as full as the One who made us.
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We think we are in charge of our own destiny, and no one can deny us our due.
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The Lord conquered Manasseh's heart when it seemed unassailable.
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He is gracious, willing and able to do the same to us and for us so that we will recognize His goodness and glory.
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Then we will be saved from our own foolishness that earned His holy wrath, covered by the blood of Jesus who paid our penalty.
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Manasseh returned to Jerusalem to reign as its king again.
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I really wish I knew how that worked out.
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It lines up with the time that Babylon rebelled against Assyria, so releasing Assyria's political prisoners from Babylon may have been a calculated move.
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Whatever the human motivations, it is clear that the Lord's hand was in it because of the change in Manasseh's heart towards Him.
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Manasseh built a new, tall wall around Jerusalem.
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He took down the idols and altars he had set up before he was captured.
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He reinstated worship of the Lord, alone, at the temple, and instructed the people to do likewise.
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They still gave offerings at the high places, which they should not have done, but it wasn't to the host of heaven any more.
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* * *
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You are sovereign over kings and you turn our hearts to You.
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