August 4, 2018: SOAP #3166   2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

Scripture:  2Chronicles (NIV) 33:12 In his distress he [King Manasseh] sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so, he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom.
2Chronicles (NIV) 34:27 [God’s words to King Josiah] Because your heart was responsive, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.

Observation:  King Manasseh was the most wicked of Judah’s kings.  However, toward the end of his life, when he was a captive of Assyria, he repented and “humbled himself greatly” before God.  When Manasseh died, his son Amon became King—became a very wicked king.  He was so wicked that his own people rose up and killed him after only two years.  They made Amon’s eight-year-old son, Josiah, king.  Josiah became a wonderful Godly king and humbled himself as his grandfather had done.

Those specific facts tell me that during the first 6 years of the young Josiah’s life, his grandfather was king.  I wonder if Grandfather King Manasseh did not spend time with his grandson who would later become king.  I wonder if Manasseh did not communicate to his grandson the terribleness of sin and the great grace of a loving and forgiving God!   I wonder…

Application:  Grandparents, we have grandchildren who are destined to be key leaders for their generation.  Let us make sure they know about the God we serve!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, help me be the grandparent my granddaughter needs.    Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!