QT 14 Feb 11

2 Kings 21:1-9 (NIV) Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother's name was Hephzibah. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, "In Jerusalem I will put my Name." 5 In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6 He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger.

7 He took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple, of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, "In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. 8 I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their forefathers, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them." 9 But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

NOTE: I'm not sure that Hezekiah was the one who failed in any of this. I think his decision to destroy all the idols, including the 700 year old bronze snake idol was not well received in the land. The phrase in verse 9 summarizes the real problem, "the people did not listen." They listened to Manasseh, but not to Hezekiah. They listened to Manasseh because he gave them what they wanted to hear. I think the people are the reason for the defeats at the hand of the Assyrian (46 towns taken) up to the point of Jerusalem, where God has mercy for Hezekiah's sake (185K soldiers killed). Yes, the leader is important, but the people also have a responsibility to pursue a walk with God. And at some point, God will hold the people responsible, not the leaders.