Good King, Evil King, Good King

Several weeks ago i began an article and said there would be a follow up which would include the rest of the story on the life of Josiah...here are both parts together...just now getting around to finishing it...             

 

  One of the wickedest kings of all of Israel, if not the most wicked, was Manasseh, son of Hezekiah (2nd Chronicles 33).  The stories about his life in 2nd Kings and 2nd Chronicles are filled with biblical lessons for us and our children, for today. What is fascinating about his life and the reason behind why God chooses to record all of his dirty laundry makes this story, one of my all time favorites in the Scriptures. It would appear that God 's favoring David as his sin of murder and adultery are neatly tucked away with David remaining a man after God's own heart.  But Manasseh gets the roughest of treatment of any king.  God's judgment results in him being fish hooked through his nostrils and led to Babylon as a slave. The text in 2nd Chronicles 33:11 says he was captured with "hooks."  I heard Dr. Smith lecture that this referred to a fish-like pronged hook that was yanked up through the nostrils, attached to a line.  Sounds pretty nasty; but he really got what he deserved.  This king was a real low life as you can see from the summary in 33.

            As the drama of 2nd Chronicles unfolds, you will find that this low life king becomes blessed by God and twice the Scriptures records that his prayer was what turned God's heart favorably toward him. I find that impressive...can a simple prayer have that much influence upon the heart of God?  Indeed!

            For the last three weeks I have been coping with what appears to be a migraine headache.  I rarely get headaches.  This morning around 5am, I laid in bed talking to the Lord but not really able to keep focused. I moaned and groaned a few prayers for my friends, staff, family, myself, and the future of Lamplighter, but it was very difficult to remain focused, especially when you have this kind of headache.  I then came downstairs to read and when I came across this text, I was reminded again of the three things that are really important in life. The first is was demonstrated for me by king Manasseh in 33:12:

            "And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.  He prayed to him and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God."

            What an amazing turn around…what an amazing God.  He will hear our prayers and he will act favorably toward us, IF we will humble ourselves GREATLY and just pray. Later in the text, Manasseh’s life is summarized and both his sin and his prayer (two times!) are recorded.  It must not be overlooked, that his sin is recorded as well as his prayer.

            It should be mentioned that one of the reasons for Manasseh’s wicked life was his absent “godly” father, Hezekiah.  Hezekiah was so focused on his career that he had little time to prepare his son for the responsibilities of kingship.  

            It is interesting to note the Scriptures rotation of righteous and wicked kings, namely Hezekiah who was righteous, then Manasseh who was a wicked king, and then righteous Josiah. What is noteworthy is that the righteous kings both end their life poorly but the wicked king is ends well. In fact Josiah is one of the most righteous kings ever to reign in Judah (2nd Kings 23), but his pride cost him his life.  

 

"And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him." 2nd Kings 23:25

 

    The ending of his life was tragic. The King of Egypt was on his way to fight an enemy in the north and sent Josiah a message telling him that he was not interested in fighting with him.  He told him also that the his God (Josiah's God) had told him to go and to not interfere.  Can you imagine listening to one of your enemies who just told you what God wants you to do?  I don't think so; and neither did Josiah.  Sadly, his pride cost him his life and one of the greatest kingships on earth ended abruptly.  Why? I believe that the event is not what is important but "how" it is written in the text. God wanted to display and highlight the contrast between humility and pride, no matter what great things you have accomplished or what great sin you have committed. Hezekiah and Josiah were great and righteous kings but because of their pride, ended their lives poorly. Manasseh was the most wicked king ever to reign, and he ended his life well, because he GREATLY humbled himself.