May 31 Daily Devotional

2 Kings 21–23; 2 Chron. 34–36

After the death of Hezekiah, his son Manasseh became king. He did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord. He turned away from the teachings of the prophet Isaiah and from the service of the Lord. He built again altars of Baal and Asherah, which his father Hezekiah had thrown down. He made his children to pass through the fire. He used enchantments and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards. He shed much innocent blood in Jerusalem. Because of his wickedness the Lord brought upon the land the generals of the Assyrian army with their host. They took Manasseh prisoner, bound him with chains and carried him to Babylon. When he was in affliction, he turned to the Lord and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is the only true God. He took away the strange gods and all the altars that he had built on mount Moriah and cast them out of the city. He commanded his people to worship the Lord and to leave the idols, but it was difficult to bring about a real reformation. After a long reign of fifty-five years Manasseh died, and his son Amon became king. He ruled only two years in wickedness and idolatry. He humbled not himself before the Lord, but trespassed more and more. His servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.

Josiah was only eight years old when his father was slain. He reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David. He declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. He removed the idols and destroyed temples of the idols in the land of Judah. He did this more thoroughly than it had ever been done before. He also broke down the altar at Bethel and burned the bones of the priests of the high place upon the altar. He ordered to have the temple in Jerusalem repaired. While this work was going on, the Book of the Law was found again. During the years of idolatry the book had been lost. When the book was read by Shaphan the scribe, the king rent his clothes and said, “Great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord.” Josiah wanted all the people to hear the words of God’s law. So he called for a great meeting at Jerusalem, where he read to them from the book, and admonished them to serve the Lord. Josiah was severely wounded on the plain of Esdraelon in a battle against the Egyptians. He was taken to Jerusalem where he died. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for their wise ruler. After Josiah the people turned back to idolatry. Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and Jehoiachin ruled for a short while. Nebuchadnezzar set up as king in Judah Zedekiah, a son of Josiah. With him the kingdom of Judah ended.