The Willingness to Listen!

After Hezekiah reformed Judah and saved them from the Assyrian Empire, his son Manasseh became king at twelve years old and ruled for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His introduction in 2 Kings 21:2-3, provides a scathing review of his kingship:

He did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.

Manasseh worshipped the sun, moon, and stars, as well as a myriad of other false gods, violated the Law of God in heinous ways – sacrificing his son, using divination, and witchcraft. He led Judah away from God. In 2 Kings 21:10-16, an unnamed prophet declares God’s coming judgment:

Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols; therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle” (11-12).

Could this have been the voice of Isaiah? Jewish tradition teaches that it was King Manasseh who martyred Isaiah. This evil king, like many others, tried to silence the Word of God by killing the prophets, but no one could silence God or stop His coming judgment. Jesus cried out in Matthew 23:37, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.”

Seize the moment and listen for the voice of Jesus, He is seeking to gather all who are lost (Luke 19:10). Don’t let sin silence the Word of God in your life!

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