August 29 & 30, 2026
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Chronicles, Psalms, & Proverbs? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Chronicles 33 (NIV)
Manasseh King of Judah
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 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.……Continue Reading
Next: Proverbs 20
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Back: 2 Chronicles 32
Wow again! As much as it is good to see a righteous king follow an evil one, it is perplexing to think that an evil one would follow a righteous one, especially Hezekiah! It reinforces the importance of staying true to the faith and encouraging the next generation to do the same. But it is good to see Manasseh repent under the discipline of God. That is discipline’s goal after all. I wonder if he recognized the difference between disobedience and obedience, because I can feel the difference as I read it. And unfortunately his son Ammon doesn’t follow God. But he reigns a short time….and Josiah is coming….
Job 21-23
Funny how when Manasa when he was in great distress knew exactly who to go to and ask for forgiveness if he knew anything about the one true God in the first place why and how did he go so far the opposite direction but I guess when someone puts a hook in your nose and bounds you in shackles and drags you off to Babylon you might start to think differently about your actions.
2 Chronicles 33
Manasseh’s evil reign is sad especially after a time of such obedience. It shows the importance of good leadership that is listening to God. It also shows us that we need to be careful who we are listening to. Just because someone in power is telling us something we cannot assume they have God’s heart. In this world today we must be sure we are hearing God first so not to be swayed but the things we hear in this world that they would tell us are appropriate and good. I can appreciate the humbling and repentance of Manasseh, sad that it took his own affliction to realize he should be doinng a better job of leading God’s people but typically that is the best way for God to get our attention!
I am in the book of James and the verse about one’s own heart drawing one to sin, sticks out to me about these kings, it doesn’t seem to matter whether their parent does what is right or evil, each one does their own thing. It does seem that the decisions and actions of the leaders impacts the nation.
“Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.”
II Chronicles 33:12-13 NKJV