Manasseh Leads Judah into Sin

MEMORY VERSE: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” —James 4:17

II KINGS 21:14,9-15; II CHRONICLES 33:12,13

MANASSEH ruled Judah longer than any other king—fifty-five years. He did not follow the righteous example of his father, Hezekiah, but quite to the contrary he led the nation into its lowest depth of religious debauchery and idolatry. It seems that all forms of heathen religions were permitted, while the true religion of the nation, which was the worship of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, was virtually banned.

Among the pagan practices which Manasseh either promoted or tolerated was the sacrifice of humans by passing the victims through the fire of Moloch. During his long reign he seems to have been under the influence of Assyria, and by introducing into Judah the idolatrous customs of Assyria he undid all that his God-fearing father, Hezekiah, had accomplished. The atrocious evils of Manasseh’s reign sealed the doom of the kingdom of Judah, as surely as the sins of Jeroboam II had sealed the doom of the kingdom of Israel. Thereafter it was only a matter of time until the end should come.

Manasseh not only sinned against God himself, but he “made Judah to sin.” The influence of one life upon others should be of special concern to all followers of the Master, especially those who are teachers and leaders. Today in the western world we do not have to contend with pagan idolatry—at least not in the same form in which it was practiced in Manasseh’s time. But among the professed people of God there are always those who like to introduce ideas, theories, and practices which lead away from the true Gospel of Christ and the worship of the true God which it inculcates.

Thus an opportunity is given to those who love the true Gospel to uphold it among those with whom they are associated, especially if they are teachers or leaders. Indeed, these have a responsibility to stand as a bulwark against the encroachments of all forms of religion which do away with the necessity of the blood of Christ, and present instead a program of social good works and political pressures.

At some point in Manasseh’s long reign the Lord permitted the king of Assyria to take him captive to Babylon. This experience had a humbling effect upon Manasseh, and when he was permitted to return to Judah he seemed quite zealous in his endeavor to undo some of the evil which he had wrought throughout the nation. However, in the opinion of the sacred writers, this did not erase the fact that he had been a wicked king, and it is this outstanding and damaging point that is recorded concerning him in the Scriptures. This is further borne out by the fact that when he died he was not buried with the good kings of Judah.

The principle set forth in our memory text is an important one in connection with God’s viewpoint of sinners. We can apply this principle to God’s dealings with the entire human race. In the beginning God informed Adam that he was not to partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam therefore knew that to partake of this tree would be sin, and that if he did so he would be punished for it. His punishment was death, because “the wages of sin is death.”—Rom. 6:23

Because Adam’s progeny are born imperfect, they too are under condemnation to death—“As in Adam all die,” Paul wrote. (I Cor. 15:21,22) But the vast majority of these die without a clear understanding of God’s will, so God in his mercy has provided redemption for them through Christ, which means that all in Christ will be made alive. Paul wrote that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.—Rom. 6:23

Even Adam did not have the knowledge that comes from experience, so the Lord has included him in his program of redemption, and it will be after Adam and all his descendants are awakened from the sleep of death that they will be given a full and complete knowledge of the truth. Paul sets this fact forth very clearly in I Timothy 2:3-6, where he writes that God will have all men to be saved and to come to an accurate knowledge of the truth. This salvation from the sleep of death is made possible because Christ gave himself a ransom for all. To continue to live, it will be necessary to accept God’s provision of life through Christ, and obey the laws of the kingdom.—Acts 3:23

QUESTIONS

What is the Bible’s record concerning King Manasseh of Judah?

Do we have a responsibility today to uphold the true worship of God?

Explain how the principle set forth in our memory verse is exemplified in God’s plan of salvation.

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