QT 15 Feb 11

2 Kings 21:19-24 (NIV) Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother's name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah. 20 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. 21 He walked in all the ways of his father; he worshiped the idols his father had worshiped, and bowed down to them. 22 He forsook the Lord, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the Lord.

23 Amon's officials conspired against him and assassinated the king in his palace. 24 Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.

NOTE:  Manasseh serves 55 years and Amon serves 2 years.  Manasseh's reign is the final straw that results in God's prophesied judgment against Israel.  Their combined reign only fills one chapter in the book of Kings, although I believe the other prophets includes more.  One chapter and 57 years to make a difference, and the difference they make is appallingly sad.  Neither of them had the strength of character to stand up to the people and do what was right, like Hezekiah, their forefather did.  Possibly, Judah might have been saved from the Babylonians, but then again, sooner or later the dark hearts of the people would have forsaken their God and broken the covenant, thereby incurring the curses of God written in the covenant.

The difference today is twofold.  One, we do not have the curses of the law hanging over us, and two, we have the Holy Spirit within us to help us and to teach us.  Clearly, for men, that does not seem to be enough.  Why?  Ultimately, we must choose to feed our spiritual soul and seek God.  Even the HS within us will not do that for us.  If he did, then all believers would live sold-out lives for the savior.  I do have a responsibility to seek God in prayer and in the word.  As I do that, he will protect me from the sins of Manasseh and Amon, which sought to please people and bowed to peer pressure, versus standing up for what is right as Hezekiah did.