Here is what the Scripture says about King Manasseh and people of Judah's continued compromise - 2 Chronicles 33:10 "And the LORD spoke to (King) Manasseh and his people, but THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN." The King and his people would not incline their hearts toward the LORD.
WOW! This is an open invitation for God's discipline. That is exactly what happened. King Manasseh was carried off to Babylon. He had to be humbled. God could not allow sin to continue among his people without his discipline. There was a watching world.
Discipline is meant to bring us to repentance and by the way so is God’s goodness. Goodness was what he had shown year after year, but now it was time for the hammer.
This is God’s desired outcome, Manasseh, implored the LORD "his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers." If we’d only see that many times our life’s difficulties are due to our rebellious heart. Have you examined your life? Are you walking in obedience, by the power of God’s Spirit? Are you saying with words you belong to God but building your own kingdom?
* Manasseh remembered God for himself. No one is ever so evil that he or she is beyond God’s reach. Manasseh also remembered how the LORD's mercy was seen in his family.
* Manasseh repented, based on the overwhelming consistency of God's longsuffering from generation to generation.
*Manasseh recognized, "that the LORD was God." He turned from his evil behavior and turned toward behavior that showed obedience to the LORD. "He took away the foreign gods...; and he cast them out of the city."
The caveat is his sin though forgiven had National consequences. His result will always be known through God’s eternal Word. Our lives do impact others, for righteousness or in rebellion. Just need to remind all of us.
What about the people? They were still immersed in wickedness. They "still sacrificed on the high places, but only to the LORD their God." This does not mean idolarty necessarily, but they did not move from the temptation of idolatry. They did not practice worship as specifically directed by the LORD.
Remember doing God's commands your way may not lead to idolatry; howeve, it is a clumsy practice of righteousness. It opens the door for compromise, then sin. I'm asking myself, "what am I practicing in compromise to the exact instructions of the LORD? The things that matter to the LORD should matter to us. Compromise more than not leads to sin. Let‘s walk far from that temptation. Let’s Purpose in our heart for full obedience and quick repentance. Others are impacted by our choice to compromise or commitment to obedience. Choose wisely!
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