April 5, 2024 - 2 Kings 21

Hezekiah died, and “Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. . . . he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel” (21:1-2).  Back in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses had warned the people, as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, that they must not follow the ways of the nations; rather, they were to be set apart, different, a people holy unto the Lord.  Manasseh disregarded this instruction as did his son Amon both of whose reigns were exceedingly evil.  The kings should have learned.  The people should have learned.  But they did not.  They lived according to the ways of the world and they suffered the consequences (the nation would soon fall to Nebuchadnezzar) as the Lord withdrew his protection.

After Amon, a better king, Josiah, reigned (more on that, tomorrow) but the dye was caste, as we say, and the kingdom of Judah was near its end.  In Exodus 19:6, Moses told the people they were to be a “kingdom of priests.”  Peter applies this designation to us:  “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).  It’s hard.  We will be mocked and ridiculed.  We will face opposition and even persecution.  But we must be different, not in any sort of arrogant manner, but as the people of God’s own possession having been lifted out of the mire to heights of blessing.

In loving kindness Jesus came

My soul in mercy to reclaim,

And from the depths of sin and shame

Through grace He lifted me.

From sinking sand He lifted me,

With tender hand He lifted me,

From shades of night to plains of light,

O praise His name, He lifted me!  -- Chas. H. Gabriel (1905)