but he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done; instead, Amon increased his guilt. Sermons
I. THE GOLDEN CHANCE THAT WAS BEFORE HIM. He was heir to the throne of Judah. Measured by some monarchies, ancient and modern, that was small enough. But it was no despicable fortune. As our own country's history shows, we must not reckon the worth of a kingdom by its geographical dimensions. Under David and Solomon the kingdom of Israel was a real power, if not a "great power" in that age. And then it was open to Amon to conciliate the tribes of Israel as his noble grandfather had done, and perhaps to win them back. At any rate, the kingdom of Judah was itself no mean heritage; its men and women were far above the average of humanity in intelligence, in civilization, in an appreciation of freedom, in courage, in all the elements of human power. To govern Judah might well satisfy the ambition of a strong and aspiring mind. And there was one thing about Judah that could not be claimed either for Assyria or Egypt. It was the chosen dwelling-place of God; if he were but worshipped and honoured there, his presence and his power would be a more sure guarantee of national independence and prosperity than countless hosts of armed men or of chariots of war. Judah was the home of God, and therefore of truth and of heavenly wisdom. To reign there was a choice heritage for a true man. II. THE RECKLESSNESS WITH WHICH HE THREW IT AWAY. 1. He deliberately chose the evil course. At two and twenty he had not his father's excuse for being led astray. The stern discipline through which Manasseh,,, had passed, and the mercy he had found in a forgiving God, surely should have affected and controlled his son. But he disregarded and defied the lessons which were written in such large characters before his face, and chose the evil way (ver. 22). 2. He declined to be corrected and restored; he persisted in the path of wrong (ver. 23). 3. He excited the hatred of those whom he governed, and brought about an early and ignominious death, enjoying but two brief years of kingly rule (ver. 24). Thus, after a dishonourable and reactionary reign, he came to a miserable and inglorious end, and thus he forfeited his heritage. 1. There is a very goodly heritage before us as the children of men. It will probably include something fair and bright of this world's estate, some pure enjoyment of which we may partake gladly and gratefully. It will certainly include the knowledge of God; the opportunity of worshipping and of serving him everywhere and in every relation we sustain; the means of cultivating a holy and a noble character; openings for usefulness in many ways, and particularly in the way of helping others on in the path of life; the opportunity of preparing for a far broader sphere and a far fuller life in the kingdom of heaven. 2. We may find ourselves tempted to forfeit this good estate. It is alienable by a sinful preference of the lower good, by a guilty disregard of Divine voices, by a perilous postponement of sacred obligation to some future time. 3. It is our true wisdom and our bounden duty to take at once that decisive step (of self-surrender to our Lord) which places us within the kingdom of God, and secures for us the lasting friendship of a Divine Redeemer. - C.
But Amon transgressed more and more. It is wonderful what evil can be done with a profession of religion. Amen was sacrificing unto all the carved images; he was so religious as to be irreligious; he reached the point of exaggeration, and that point is blasphemy. When there is mere ignorance, God in His lovingkindness and tender mercy often closes His eyes as if He could not see what is being done: but when it is not ignorance but violence, determination, real obstinacy in the way of evil, and utter recklessness as to what it may cost — what if God should be compelled to open His eyes, and look the evil man full in the face, and condemn him by silent observation? It is wonderful, too, how much evil can be done in a little time. Nothing is so easy as evil. A man could almost fell a forest before he could grow one tree. Every blow tells: every bad word becomes a great blot: there is an infinite contagion in evil; it affects every one, it poisons quickly, it makes a harvest in the night-time. To do good how much time is required! How few people will believe that we are doing good! We have to encounter suspicion, criticism, distrust; men say, "We must wait to see the end; we cannot believe in the possibility of all this earnestness and sacrifice"; they ask questions about its possible permanence; even good men are apt to hinder other good men in endeavouring to do good. But evil has no such disadvantages to contend with. There is a consolidation in the forces of evil that is not known among the forces of good. It would seem as if the poet's description were right — "Devil with devil damned, firm concord holds." It may be that in that energetic expression Milton has stated the reality of the case.(J. Parker, D. D.) People Amon, Ben, David, Hezekiah, Israelites, Josiah, Manasseh, SolomonPlaces Assyria, Babylon, Fish Gate, Gihon, Jerusalem, Ophel, Valley of HinnomTopics Amon, Didn't, Guilt, Guilty, Humble, Humbled, Humbling, Increased, Incurred, Low, Manasseh, Manas'seh, Moreover, Multiplied, Sinning, Trespass, TrespassedOutline 1. Manasseh's wicked reign3. He sets up idolatry, and will not be admonished 11. He is carried into Babylon 12. Upon his prayer to God he is released and puts down idolatry 18. His acts 20. He dying, Amon succeeds him 21. who is slain by his servants 25. The murderers being slain, Josiah succeeds him Dictionary of Bible Themes 2 Chronicles 33:23Library Manasseh's Sin and Repentance'So 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. 10. And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. 11. Wherefore 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. 12. And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Manasseh How Shall one Make Use of Christ as the Life, when Wrestling with an Angry God Because of Sin? Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant. Covenanting According to the Purposes of God. The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly The Girdle of the City. Nehemiah 3 The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal Beginning at Jerusalem The Jerusalem Sinner Saved; Chronicles Links 2 Chronicles 33:23 NIV2 Chronicles 33:23 NLT 2 Chronicles 33:23 ESV 2 Chronicles 33:23 NASB 2 Chronicles 33:23 KJV 2 Chronicles 33:23 Bible Apps 2 Chronicles 33:23 Parallel 2 Chronicles 33:23 Biblia Paralela 2 Chronicles 33:23 Chinese Bible 2 Chronicles 33:23 French Bible 2 Chronicles 33:23 German Bible 2 Chronicles 33:23 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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