II Kings 21
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Abundant Grace
Abundant Grace
As we moved // books of the Kings
Seem to be a transitioning theme of Grace....
First with Solomon // abundant Grace
His building of the temple
Bronze pillars // interior of sanctuary overlaid with gold.
Hugh basins of water // pomegranates and flowers growing.
He had acquired so much gold // began making shields out of gold.
Then he met // queen of Sheba
His heart began to turn away from Lord // more to her.
His life purpose become one of acquiring // instead of inspiring.
And the nation followed // right behind him.
// God said (para phrase): “because you’ve broken my covenant I will tear the kingdom from you… v.12 Nevertheless I will not do it in your days...”
If you were to look // Solomons life.
Outside it would look like // the Lord was blessing his life...
There was abundance of grace...
(next slide)
Abounding Grace
Abounding Grace
It was if // this spiritual pendulum // swinging back and forth.
King after king // sway nation away from the Lord.
The common theme, “they did evil in the sight of the Lord”
And the Lord // send messengers/prophets with warnings.
And the Lord // send messengers/prophets with warnings.
Adversaries come against the people.
Wars broke out.
Famines were prevalent.
Anything to get attention // turn from their evil lives.
Turn back to // Lord.
Seemed like evil prospered...
But even then // Grace abound..
And every so many years // an Elijah would come along.
A glimmer of hope // nation would turn back to God.
We could see // spark of revival.
Only to be extinguished // by unGodly king.
Here’s a sobering verse: In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel...
Jehoash tried to rebuild the temple.
Ahaz introduced child sacrifices.
The Assyrian war machine // continued to reign vengeance on whomever/whatever they wanted.
We’ve transitioned from;
Abundance of Grace
Abouding Grace
(next slide)
Today we move // into world of
Dangerous Grace
Dangerous Grace
Receiving or Refusing God’s Glory: A study of 1 & 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles Lesson 11—The Worst of Times; the Best of Times
Charles Dickens began A Tale of Two Cities with the line “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Which just happens // title of todays message:
Charles Dickens began his book // A Tale of Two Cities with this line...
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”
Details the era // French Revolution.
We see the character of mans heart...
Both in goodness and evil.
When you finish the book // get a sense // good always wins over evil.
As we began // bring this book close.
We’re introduced five different Kings.
We’ll focus on primarily on two.
The first being Manasseh // son of Hezekiah.
Second Josiah
Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 21–23
The interesting thing about Josiah and Manasseh is that their spiritual lives were exactly opposite each other.
Interesting Josiah began his reign // in grace.
Fell into disobedience.
Manasseh began in sin // ending in humility.
He will // set the stage // kingdom of Judah’s future.
Hezekiah who’s life // extended.
Because of his love/passion for the people and God.
Manasseh // Judah’s most wicked king.
And Manasseh // Judah’s most wicked king.
It’s was worst of times...
Grace had abound // the pendulum was swinging // opposite direction.
Going deeper and deeper // into the darkness.
Evil is so rooted // hearts of people.
Moving from abounding grace to // imminent judgement.
Listen:
“Don’t confuse God’s grace with Gods Acceptance”
It was the worst of times // not even the best efforts for revival could postpone.
The impending storm...
The nation of Israel had assumed // they were getting away with sin...
Listen:
“Don’t confuse God’s grace with Gods Acceptance”
“Don’t confuse God’s grace with Gods Acceptance”
(next slide)
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.
At 12 years old // Manasseh begin to reign // next to his father.
He’d reigned longer // 55yrs // than any other King in Judah.
But He was a wicked man // more than any before him.
(next slide)
2
And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.
Manasseh tore down // what Hezekiah built up.
Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 21–23
No sooner was Hezekiah off the scene than Manasseh’s true character was revealed.
Temple worship // nation trusting in the Lord.
Built up // Hezekiah tore down.
Pagan shrines returned.
Rather than continue // God honoring policies of his father.
Manasseh returned // despicable practices of his grandfather...
(next slide)
II Kings
For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
Hezekiah had successfully removed // high places // so common.
He erected altar for Baal.
They worship all the host of heavens...
Even though they knew // Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger...
He even set up altars // inside house of the Lord.
(next slide)
And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
4
Not only did Manasseh rebel // agains father
His rebellion extended against the Law of the Lord.
The leaders of Judah // must been ignorant of law.
At very least // indifferent to law.
Maybe they assuming // since God hadn’t punished them.
He wasn’t going to...
Worship in these high places // clearly violates Gods commands.
Image-making clearly contrary // Gods statutes.
Worshiping the sun, moon, planets or stars
Seems innocent enough.
Conforms to pagan fascination with astrology.
Violate Gods word...
As you know // sin begets sin...
(next slide)
And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
Manasseh continued // dangerous grace.
Practiced human sacrifices // ever one of his own sons.
Fortune-telling
Omens
Mediums and necromancers (wizards)
These were all part // his religious beliefs.
All of this violates Gods laws.
Moved the king // and his people.
Further and further from the Lord.
Closer and closer // Satans realm.
It wasn’t just one man // whole nation of Judah
Becoming a culture of death // and spiritual destruction.
At some point // grace will be withheld!
It’s says; “He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him to anger.”
And I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander anymore out of the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Law that my servant Moses commanded them.” But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.
(next slide)
(next slide)
And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the Lord said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever. And I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander anymore out of the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Law that my servant Moses commanded them.”
(next slide)
But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.
ie, they had continued in dangerous grace.
Now they more evil // even those whom the Lord was protecting them from.
You’ve seen kids do this before.
Walking school // barking dog other side fence.
They start kicking fence.
Everyday walk by // kick fence.
But nothing ever happens // dog is behind fence...
Even get point // not afraid // after all if dog could get out he would have.
They are comfortable in their evilness.
You know the story // one day they kick the fence and the gate swings open wide.
10-
And the Lord said by his servants the prophets, “Because Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done things more evil than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols, therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such disaster that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. And I will forsake the remnant of my heritage and give them into the hand of their enemies, and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies, because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came out of Egypt, even to this day.”
Don’t confuse Gods Grace with Gods Acceptance.
God sent prophets his people // would not repent.
God gave warnings and famines // they didn’t believe.
He allow armies // seige the cities // ignored the signs.
Gave grace at every opportunity // they abused it.
It was the worst of times… going to get much worse...
Visualize these metaphors...
I will measure line of Samaria
Plumb line Ahab
I’ll wipe Jerusalem like a dish // wiping turning upside down.
They will become like prey // spoils to their enemies.
I’ll finish the story for you...
Their world caved in....
The Lord allowed // Assyrian army to attack..
Captured Manasseh // put hooks in his nose
Bound him // bronze chains
Put him in prison...
(next slide)
The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon.
Listen;
Don’t Confuse Gods Grace, with Gods Acceptance
They paid no attention // Therefore the Lord brought upon them commanders...
I believe this is what God // saying to all of us today...
Some of you are living // in a time abundant Grace.
Some of you are living // in season of abounding Grace.
And some of are living // in a period of Dangerous Grace.
It’s time let go.
God has showing you // folly of your ways.
Don’t let your heart be hardened // give all of your life to Christ.
(prayer)
