1Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel. 3For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he raised up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel did, and worshiped all the army of the sky, and served them. 4He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.” 5He built altars for all the army of the sky in the two courts of Yahweh’s house. 6He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits and with wizards. He did much evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger. 7He set the engraved image of Asherah that he had made in the house of which Yahweh said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever; 8I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.” 9But they didn’t listen, and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than the nations did whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel.
Over the next years both Israel and Judah have a succession of 20 kings each. Out of the 20 kings in Judah only 8 remained faithful to God, Israel has an even worse record, out of 20 kings none were faithful to God. Through all of this rebellion and abandonment God still wants to guide his people back to him, so he begins to raise up Prophets. These prophets take on the role of proclaiming God’s voice and reminding the people of the covenant that God has made with them. The prophets also warn of the consequences, that his people will be defeated by their enemies and exiled if they continue to abandon God. The most well known of the prophets are Elijah and Elisha and they work in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
The most wicked of the kings of Israel was Ahab, who along with his wife Jezebel, actively encouraged the people to abandon God and worship the false god of Baal. Meanwhile in Judah despite some Godly kings they also continue in rebellion too. King Manasseh actually rebuilt the pagan shrines that his father had destroyed, going as far as putting pagan altars into the very Temple of God at Jerusalem. The whole situation seemed so hopeless. Yet through all of this God still wanted his people to turn to him, to give their hearts back to him. Even though they had been completely abandoned him, God did not abandon his people. He continued to call out through the voice of the prophets.
Even today it can feel like the world has totally rejected God and has totally abandoned him. Yet it is important for us to remember that God’s plan is still one of hope and salvation. Our role in the world is to continue to speak out for God, not just in what we say but in how we live.