2 Kings 21:1–2: “Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.”

August 15th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

King Hezekiah was sick and going to die, so he cried out to the Lord. The Lord chose to heal him, and Hezekiah lived for another 15 years. But two terrible things happened during those extra years. First, his son Manasseh, one of the most idolatrous kings Judah ever had, was born. Second, Hezekiah foolishly displayed the wealth of his kingdom to an ambassador from Babylon, which opened the door for King Nebuchadnezzar, who came years later and took the city by force, to know exactly where Judah’s treasures were kept.

Manasseh did evil, literally, did “disgusting actions” before the Lord. He committed the same acts the Canaanites had been committing in the Promised Land before the Israelites entered in. We do not know the exact timing, but many think it was the sins of the people during this time that led to the prophet Ezekiel seeing the glory of God lift up and leave the Holy of Holies. A short time after that, God’s presence moved to the walls of Jerusalem and waited there, but the people did not turn from their sins. Then His glory withdrew to the Mount of Olives and lingered there, but still there was no movement of the people back to God. Finally the Shekinah Glory was caught back up to heaven (Eze. 8:4–6; 9:3; 10:19–20; 11:22).

Proverbs tells us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, / But sin is a reproach to any people” (14:34). All nations fall under this same promise of God for blessing or reproach, depending upon their obedience to God’s word. John Quincy Adams, who later became President of the United States, said in 1821:

From the day of the Declaration [of Independence], the [American people] . . . were bound by the laws of God, which they all . . . acknowledged as the rules of their conduct.¹

The necessary step for any nation to become great on the earth and blessed by the Creator is that its people come together to obey the word of God.

“LORD, we ask You to forgive our sins, heal our sins, and heal our land, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

¹http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/speech-on-independence-day/, accessed February 2, 2017</small