Destruction: A Study in 2 KingsSample

What does it say?

Manasseh filled Judah with idolatry and led the nation to depart from God, provoking God’s anger against His people.

What does it mean?

Manasseh led the people to engage in the worship of false gods. He even built altars to other gods in the temple, trashing the place where God’s people were to worship Him. The people were distracted from worshiping the one true God by the perversions of neighboring cultures, even though God had forbidden such practices. The evil in Judah was so extensive that it surpassed that of the Canaanites driven out of the land. The pure worship of the true God in His chosen place, the temple of Jerusalem, was contaminated beyond recognition.

How should I respond?

Just as the temple was the center of worship for Judah, believers’ hearts are the temple of God and the center of our worship. It is still God’s prerogative to be the only One worshiped by His people. Still, it’s not uncommon to get distracted from giving God the honor He deserves by turning things like possessions and relationships into “false gods.” Take a moment for self-examination. Ask God to expose any areas in which you have been distracted by the negative influences of our culture. Determine to guard yourself by regularly reading His Word and gathering with other believers.