Read II Kings 21:1-9, 16
1) Describe the spiritual environment in Judah during the reign of King Manasseh –
a) Rebuilt high places – places of worship set apart for a pagan god(s) (Baal, Asherah, etc.) Located on hills. These gods were usually fertility gods; therefore, worship rituals included immoral activity.
b) Built altars to Baal and Asherah – fertility gods worshipped by many people groups in the Middle East. Asherah was the wife of Baal. Many Jews worshipped Asherah as the wife of Yahweh. Asherah poles – cult symbol connected with the worship of Asherah. Wooden artifact or tree dedicated to Asherah. Asherah poles could be seen throughout Judah.
c) Worshipped the stars and planets; built altars to them in the Temple (the house of the Lord) in Jerusalem.
d) Human sacrifice – Manasseh offered his son to the god Molech. Literal translation of verse 6 – “made his son pass through the fire.” Manasseh’s son was burned alive as part of a ritual purification practice to the god Molech. His infant son was passed through fire to receive the blessings of Molech. The child died and therefore was not deemed worthy of Molech’s blessings.
e) Astrology and spiritism (communication with the dead) was practiced – fortune telling, mediums (psychics), necromancer (someone who could speak to the dead)
f) Placed an idol of Asherah in the Temple (House of the Lord) – Typically images of female fertility gods were extremely sexual. Accentuated her sexual appearance. Jews continued to worship God in the Temple. However, they brought him down to the same level with other gods (Stars, planets, Baal, Asherah). The Lord (Yahweh) was just one of many gods.
g) Manasseh committed great bloodshed - specifically innocent blood. Why? Who were the innocents? The innocents were probably Jews who refused to follow Manasseh’s example. Rejected the worship of other gods. Unhappy/angry with Manasseh … his desecration of the Temple, his promotion of the worship of false gods, etc. Voiced their anger. Manasseh’s response – had them killed. From the description in verse 16, sounds like it was a high number who were killed. According to Jewish tradition, one of them was the prophet Isaiah. Manasseh had him sawed in half (Hebrews 11: 37)
Let me add that it is probable that there were priests in the Temple who supported/tolerated Manasseh’s actions. A lot of authority/influence came with the position of priest. If you want to keep that social position, you went along with whatever the king wanted. There were probably men who claimed to be prophets of God who supported/tolerated Manasseh’s actions. They gave God’s seal of approval to Manasseh’s actions. False prophets – “God spoke to me and said ‘I have a brother named Baal and a wife named Asherah. Worship them also or else!’
2) Do you see any parallels between the spiritual environment of Judah during the reign of Manasseh and the spiritual environment of the United States today? List examples –
a) High places and altars to false gods – Celebrity worship such as the Kardashians – the high place/altar is the TV set; sports – the high place/altar is the football stadium/arena.
b) Sexual immorality practiced publicly
c) Astrology, mediums, psychics all over the place.
d) human sacrifice = abortion; the infant is not worthy of life
e) Disgrace the House of the Lord – Churches/denominations that tolerate/condone sinful practices. Pastors speaking from the pulpit who condone sexual immorality (homosexuality, sex outside of marriage) and/or who condone other religions (there are many roads to God, Jesus was a great religious figure like Mohammed and Buddha)
f) Persecution of true followers of God – Christians who speak against sexual immorality, abortion, and sinful activities; who disagree with the teachings of other religions; who condemn idolatry (celebrity worship), astrology, psychic hotlines ... how are they perceived in the world? Intolerant, backwards thinking, religious nut jobs, insensitive to the religious rights of others. Form of persecution? Ridicule
Next Sunday – Read II Kings chapters 22 and 23. What happened that transformed the spiritual environment of Judah? Also read Deuteronomy chapter 4.
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