2Chronicles 33, HIS ways!

2Ch 33:1-2, Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. BUT HE DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, …

His father Hezekiah was sick and near death and the LORD told him, via Isaiah, that he was going to die! It was his time! 2Ki 20:1. YET he pleaded and cried to the LORD and the LORD extended his life 15 years longer!

2Ki 20:6, AND I WILL ADD TO YOUR DAYS FIFTEEN YEARS….

During the last 15 years of his life he begot Manasseh, a wicked king! THE LORD HAS A BETTER PLAN FOR US, YET MOST OF THE TIME WE PRAY IN IGNORANCE; WHEN HE SAYS ‘NO’ TO OUR PRAYERS IS FOR OUR BENEFIT EVEN IF WE DON’T SEE IT! 

2CH 33: 6, 10, ALSO HE CAUSED HIS SONS TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE IN THE VALLEY OF THE SON OF HINNOM; HE PRACTICED SOOTHSAYING, USED WITCHCRAFT AND SORCERY, AND CONSULTED MEDIUMS AND SPIRITISTS. HE DID MUCH EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, TO PROVOKE HIM TO ANGER. And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN. 

The sad thing is today this would be considered normal behavior; killing children in the womb, consulting mediums doing evil before the LORD! YET, HE sends HIS messengers to teach the WORD of GOD and it’s rejected by them!

2Ch 33:11-12, Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, WHO TOOK MANASSEH WITH HOOKS, BOUND HIM WITH BRONZE FETTERS, AND CARRIED HIM OFF TO BABYLON. Now when he was in affliction, HE IMPLORED THE LORD HIS GOD, AND HUMBLED HIMSELF GREATLY BEFORE THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS,

Hos 5:15, I will return again to My place TILL THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR OFFENSE. THEN THEY WILL SEEK MY FACE; IN THEIR AFFLICTION THEY WILL EARNESTLY SEEK ME.” 

2Ch 33:13, …THEN MANASSEH KNEW THAT THE LORD WAS GOD. 

THE LORD HAS HIS WAYS TO TURN EVEN THE MOST PEOPLE WICKED BACK TO HIM!

1Jn 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

2Chronicles 16, Repent and move on!

2Ch 16:1-3, In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah… Then Asa brought silver and gold FROM THE TREASURIES OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD… and sent to Ben-Hadad king of SYRIA…, saying, “LET THERE BE A TREATY BETWEEN YOU AND ME, … SO THAT HE (Baasha) will withdraw from me.”

Asa’s plan worked, he made a treaty with Syria and Syria attacked Baasha’s northern cities which cause king Baasha to go back!

2Ch 16:7, … HANANI THE SEER CAME TO ASA KING OF JUDAH, and said to him: “BECAUSE YOU HAVE RELIED ON THE KING OF SYRIA, AND HAVE NOT RELIED ON THE LORD YOUR GOD, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 

Asa forgot about the LORD, he trusted in his riches and a treaty with pagan people, RATHER THAN PUTTING HIS TRUST IN THE LORD!

2Ch 16:9, FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND FRO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH, TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOSE HEART IS LOYAL TO HIM. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” 

KING ASA SHOULD HAVE REPENTED BEFORE THE LORD, YET IT HARDENED HIS HEART!

2Ch 16:10,12, THEN ASA WAS ANGRY WITH THE SEER, AND PUT HIM IN PRISON, …, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; YET IN HIS DISEASE HE DID NOT SEEK THE LORD, BUT THE PHYSICIANS. 

KING ASA STARTED OUT WITH GREAT FAITH IN THE LORD, BUT ENDED BADLY!

Pro 17:10, REBUKE IS MORE EFFECTIVE FOR A WISE MAN Than a hundred blows on a fool. 

WE ALL DO FOOLISH THINGS IN LIFE, YET WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD, REPENT AND MOVE ON!

Pro 28:13, HE WHO COVERS HIS SINS WILL NOT PROSPER, BUT WHOEVER CONFESSES AND FORSAKES THEM WILL HAVE MERCY. 

2Ti 4:7, I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.