February 29 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 33:1-13:

¹Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
²But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
³For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
⁴Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
⁵And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
⁶And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
⁷And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
⁸Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.
⁹So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
¹⁰And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
¹¹Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
¹²And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
¹³And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

Devotional

God is good. "He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." But the goodness of God should lead us to repentance. "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" But God can also use affliction to bring people to repentance. Thus it was with king Manasseh. He was a wicked king and did much evil in the sight of the Lord. The Lord spoke to him and to his people, but they would not hear. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria. They bound him with chains, and carried him to Babylon. There in captivity he had time to think upon the error of his ways. If he only had followed the example of Hezekiah his father, who was a God-fearing king, he would not have had to go into captivity; but who can help him now? — "In his affliction he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers," and prayed unto him. And God heard his prayers, and brought him back to Jerusalem, into his kingdom. So great is the mercy of God. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God. What a blessed result affliction had in the life of Manasseh. So it is with every one that humbles himself and puts his trust in God. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.

Prayer

Our Father, look down upon us in mercy. Grant us grace that we may not walk in our ways and do our own will; but may we give heed unto Thy Word; may we walk before Thee in uprightness and true humility,and put our trust in Thee, and thus may our end be peace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Matt. 4:45; Rom. 2:4; 2 Chron. 33:2; 10:12, 13; 1 Pet. 5:6.

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