
MANNASSES
2 Chronicles 33:1 - 7 KJV
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
2 Chronicles 33:8 - 10 NLT
8 Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
1. GOD’S MERCY
GOD IS ALWAYS SPEAKING - WE AREN’T ALWAYS LISTENING…
- when making a decision, we need to learn to stop…. put a hand on your belly… say
- What are you saying Holy Spirit?
- How should I act, what should I say… what should I do?
- INSTEAD leaders seek 3 other things
- Their experience // this is what worked in the past…
- Their emotions // I have a right to say what I want…
- Their enemies // what is he doing… how can i be better…
- Their education // what I can research… figure out… think up…
And we SHUT UP the Holy Spirit - saying we don’t want to hear what He is saying…
WE GOT THIS…WE SHUT DOWN HIS PURSUIT and go our own way…
v. 11 NLT So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.
- a ring through his nose -
- Fear of man bringeth a snare… literally a hook through the nose.
- To control a large beast to do whatever you want them to do.
- Fear of man bringeth a snare… literally a hook through the nose.
- bronze chains - WHY BRONZE?
- There is a clear difference between bronze and gold in Old Testament.
- GOLD was used in the inner court.
- BRONZE was used:
- The altar, on which animals were sacrificed to atone for sin, and the enormous “sea” or bowl of pure water, to cleanse and purify. Before a priest could go into the holy place, into the presence of God, first they needed the blood, and then the water. The atonement and the cleansing from sin. To be covered and clean. The sin and uncleanness was dealt with at the bronze altar and the bronze sea.
- Bronze is where God’s judgement deals with sin – only then can a person enter the pure and holy presence of God.
- IF someone WALKED HABITUALLY in sin. Did not REPENT of it… did not ACCEPT Jesus’ sacrifice and make Him LORD - then judgement would come upon them in a negative way….
- There is a clear difference between bronze and gold in Old Testament.
led him to Babylon - ALWAYS represents the RULE of man’s kingdom and powers above God.
- it is the TRUST in political Caesar. It is the IDEA that we can do things better than God.
- Babylon is the WORLD’S SYSTEM - steeped in fear to get God’s people to EITHER:
- TRUST IT -
- BE AFRAID OF IT -
In order to establish dominance and slavery to Kingdom people.
- Babylon is the WORLD’S SYSTEM - steeped in fear to get God’s people to EITHER:
- it is the TRUST in political Caesar. It is the IDEA that we can do things better than God.
Proverbs 29:25
25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.
2. REPENTANCE OF LEADERS leads to
2 Chronicles 33:12 - 13
12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.
1 Timothy 2:1 - 2
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
THE CLOSEST FINGER TO YOU IS THE THUMB. Since it is the closest to you, the thumb reminds you to pray for those THAT ARE CLOSEST TO THE PRESIDENT.
- HIS FAMILY, HIS FRIENDS…
- Ezra 6:10
10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
- THIS IS KING DARIUS… OF BABYLON… not a great guy… and although tolerant of God’s people, not someone who specifically worshipped Jehovah.
- HE DECREES to make sure that God’s people are protected - BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT THEY PRAYED FOR THE KING AND HIS FAMILY!
THE NEXT FINGER IS CALLED YOUR INDEX FINGER. It is used for pointing.
PRAY FOR THE PRESIDENT TO MAKE WISE CHOICES AND DECISIONS. PRAY FOR HIM TO SEE THE WAY OF TRUTH.
- Ephesians 1:18
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
- We pray for him to have wisdom. For God to surround him with wise counsel.
THE NEXT FINGER IS THE TALLEST FINGER. This finger reminds us to pray for the leaders in the white house:
- PRAY FOR THE SUPREME COURT JUDGES
- May those Justices who fear You, prepare and rule in the fear of the Lord. “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”
2 Samuel 23:3
3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
- May the literal fear of God fall upon those Justices who currently do not fear You.
Psalm 2:10 – 11 NASB 1995
10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling.
THE FOURTH FINGER IS CALLED THE RING FINGER. Did you know that this is the weakest of all the fingers? IF THIS FINGER BREAKS THEN THE WHOLE HAND CAN NOT FUNCTION WELL.
- PRAY FOR HIS HEALTH
- PRAY FOR HIS SAFETY AND SECURITY.
THE NEXT FINGER IS THE SMALLEST FINGER. The Bible says, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.” Let the little finger remind you to pray for his HUMILITY.
- PRAY THAT HIS HEART IS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.
- PRAY THAT HE THINKS OF OTHERS BEFORE HIMSELF.
- Micah 6:8
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
2 Chronicles 33:16 - 17
16 And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.
17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only.
3.
They still were doing things “their way”.
Worship is not a sacrifice with no heart.
Worship is not the slow song with hands lifted.
WORSHIP IS A LIFE DEDICATED AND PURPOSED FOR KING AND KINGDOM ONLY.