Manasseh Pridefully Rebelling Against the Lord
Manasseh's prideful rebellion against the Lord led to his downfall and captivity, serving as a warning to us to listen to God's voice and resist the world's influence.
Bob Hoekstra delivers a powerful sermon on the life of King Manasseh, who walked in prideful rebellion against the Lord, engaging in evil practices that shocked even more than Nebuchadnezzar's. Influenced by the godless nations before Israel, Manasseh indulged in abominable idol worship, rebuilding altars and bringing idolatry into the Temple of the Lord. He went as far as sacrificing his own sons and practicing witchcraft and sorcery. Despite the Lord reaching out to him, Manasseh persisted in rebellion, leading to his humiliating captivity by the king of Assyria.
Text
Manasseh . . . 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 . . . And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. Therefore the LORD brought upon them . . . the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon. (2 Chronicles 33:1-2, 10-11)
Manasseh was another king who walked in prideful rebellion against the Lord. "He did evil in the sight of the LORD." His pride was even more shocking than Nebuchadnezzar's (who ruled in Babylon), since Manasseh ruled in Jerusalem and had been raised by a godly father, King Hezekiah.
Manasseh was heavily influenced by the remaining presence of the godless nations that dominated the land before God gave it to Israel. His evil was "according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel." The spiritual behavior of these Canaanite nations was abominable in God's sight. They indulged in licentious worship of idols on the hills and mountains. Manasseh "rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he raised up altars for the Baals, and made wooden images; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them" (2 Chronicles 33:3). Manasseh also brought idolatry into the very Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. "He also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, 'In Jerusalem shall My name be forever' " (2 Chronicles 33:4).
The nations that preceded Israel in the land were even engaged in sacrificing their children and seeking demonic guidance. Shockingly, Manasseh also "caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists" (2 Chronicles 33:6). Actually, Manasseh brought more evil into the land than his abominable predecessors. "So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel" (2 Chronicles 33:9). Lovingly, the Lord reached out to this pridefully rebellious king. "And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen." The ultimate result of this persistent resistance was humiliating and painful captivity. "Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon."
Heavenly Father, please guard me from the seductive influence of this godless world. I am already too familiar with the bondage that worldly indulgence brings. Please nurture to fullness every godly seed ever planted in my life, for Your glory, Amen.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to Manasseh's Prideful Rebellion
- A. Manasseh's evil actions in the sight of the LORD
- B. His influence by the remaining godless nations
- II. The Abominations of the Nations
- A. Idolatry and licentious worship
- B. Sacrificing children and seeking demonic guidance
- III. Manasseh's Idolatry in the Temple
- A. Building altars in the house of the LORD
- B. Causing his sons to pass through the fire
- IV. The Lord's Warning and Manasseh's Resistance
- A. The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people
- B. They would not listen, resulting in captivity
- V. Conclusion and Application
Key Quotes
“He did evil in the sight of the LORD.” — Bob Hoekstra
“He rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down;” — Bob Hoekstra
“Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon.” — Bob Hoekstra
Application Points
- We must be careful not to let the world's influence seduce us into rebellion against God.
- We must listen to God's voice and obey His commands, even when it's difficult.
- We must nurture every godly seed in our lives and ask God to guard us from the bondage of worldly indulgence.