2 Kings

2 Kings 21: Manasseh leads Judah astray

Begin in prayer

Before we read about Manasseh and the sins of Judah, let us bow before the Lord together. Ask Him to turn our hearts back to Him, and to show us Jesus, whom God has sent as His last word to sinners.

For thus said the Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, “You will be saved in returning and rest. Your strength will be in quietness and in confidence.”

Isaiah 30:15

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You warned Your people through Your servants the prophets. Help us to listen to You and to trust Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Manasseh becomes king at twelve and reigns fifty-five years, and he does what is evil in the LORD's sight. He rebuilds the high places that Hezekiah destroyed, and he sets up altars to Baal. He practices sorcery, and he sets an idol in the house where the LORD had said His name would be. The LORD speaks through His servants the prophets, warning that He will bring evil on Jerusalem. Manasseh fills Jerusalem with innocent blood from one end to another. Amon, his son, walks in his father's ways, and his servants kill him, and the people make Josiah king.

As you read 2 Kings 21, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD warned Judah through His prophets, and Manasseh set aside His word.

Manasseh became king at twelve and reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem (verse 1). He did evil in the LORD's sight and rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed (verses 2 and 3). He raised altars to Baal and to the army of the sky, even in the LORD's house (verses 3 to 5). The LORD had said of that house, “I will put my name in Jerusalem” (verse 4). Manasseh led Judah to do more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed (verse 9). The LORD warned by His servants the prophets that He would bring evil on Jerusalem and Judah (verses 10 to 12). Manasseh also filled Jerusalem with innocent blood (verse 16). His son Amon walked in his ways, and his own servants killed him (verses 20 to 23). The LORD warned Judah before He judged, and the chapter shows what it costs to set aside His word.

How does 2 Kings 21 show us that the LORD warned Judah through His prophets, and that Manasseh set aside His word?

The LORD warned Judah through His prophets.

The LORD spoke by His servants the prophets (verse 10). He said that He would bring evil on Jerusalem and Judah because of what Manasseh had done (verses 11 and 12). He also said that Judah had provoked Him since the day their fathers came out of Egypt (verse 15). God spoke long ago by the prophets, and now He has spoken by His Son (Hebrews 1 verses 1 and 2).

Manasseh led Judah into great sin.

Manasseh built altars to Baal (verse 3). He set up an idol in the house where the LORD had said His name would be (verse 7). He did much evil, and he led Judah astray (verses 6 and 9). Parents, you may want to explain verses 6 and 16 in your own words, without details.

The LORD's promise to Israel came with a condition.

The LORD had told David and Solomon that He would put His name in this house and in Jerusalem forever (verse 7). He would not cause Israel's feet to wander out of the land, if they kept His law (verse 8). Manasseh set an idol in that house, and the people did not listen (verses 7 and 9).

Memorise

He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.”

2 Kings 21:4

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I listen to the LORD's word, and will I come to Jesus?

Manasseh built altars in the house where the LORD had said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.” The LORD warned Judah by His prophets, and Manasseh set aside His word. Jesus is God's last word to sinners, for God has now spoken by His Son (Hebrews 1 verse 2).

Sin fills a heart as it filled Jerusalem, and only God can cleanse it. Jesus died on the cross in His people's place, and that death was once for all. He rose from the dead, and He cleanses His people from sin.

So turn from your sin, and trust Jesus, the Word of God. Forgiveness is given to everyone who comes to Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD warned Judah through His prophets, and that Manasseh set aside His word. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Parents, you may want to explain verses 6 and 16 in your own words, without details. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He warns His people before He judges, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

“Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name.

Psalm 91:14

Father, thank You that You warn Your people in love before You judge. Thank You for Jesus, Your Son, who died for sinners and rose again. Grant each child grace to turn from sin and rest in Jesus. Help us to listen to You this week. Amen.