We continue our slog through the history of Solomon’s Temple and all the kings who ruled Israel.
So, next up on the list is Hezekiah’s son Manasseh.
Similar to how Solomon ruled alongside David temporarily, Manasseh also shared the throne with his father for a brief period of time.
However, after his father died in 686 B.C, the evil inclination took control of Manasseh like a bat out of hell screaming for vengeance.
What do I mean?
I mean the homie began backsliding like there was no tomorrow.
He started by reversing all the reforms his father had worked so hard to put into place.
He then erected a bunch of altars to the stars, sun, and moon in the Temple.
He even set up an Asherah (Canaanite wooden worship pole) there.
Fearing that Manasseh might desecrate the Holy of Holies, the priests removed the Ark of the Covenant from under the wings of the Cherubim, where it had lain hidden for so many years.
Later, Manasseh’s rear end was hauled off to Assyria for not being loyal enough to his Gentile masters.
When Manasseh finally returned to Israel, he appeared to have had a change of heart.
He removed some of the heathen altars he had built.
And he also restored the Great Altar of Burnt Offering since it had become so defaced and worn down over the years.
Alrighty, let’s stop here and transition over to the takeaway.
So what’s coming to me is the change of heart that Manasseh apparently underwent when he was in Assyria.
But here’s the thing.
How do we know he had a change of heart?
We know because his repentance was followed by the actions he took afterward.
I’m talking about the tearing down of the pagan altars he had ordered erected, and restoring the Altar of Burnt Offering, etcetera.
His change of heart wasn’t just some invisible internal thing.
I mean, let’s face it, man.
Talk is cheaper than a bunch of free samples at Costco.
If your faith ain’t supported by action…
As James said in the New Testament book named after him…
Is it really faith?
Ya feeling me here, homie?
Alrighty, done.
See you next time.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“In the same way, faith by itself,
if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say,
“You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds,
and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”
-James 2:17-18
What is interesting about this is that you have combined the story from both Kings and Chronicles to show the complete history of Manasseh, the one king who God said had committed so many sins that he no longer could hold off punishment.
Kings tells only the sinful side of the story, while Chronicles tells us of his repentance, which is why Kings and Chronicles, being basically the same stories, are both in the Tanakh because Kings is one side of the coin and Chronicles gives us the other side.
As for your main point, which I (of course) agree on, there are two old adages regarding your message:
1. You need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
and
2. People don’t mean what they say, they mean what they do.