HEZEKIAH tried to reach out to the remaining people in the northern kingdom inviting them to come to Jerusalem to the Passover celebration. Yet many responded with ridicule, and scorn. Some however accepted. (This is similar to the message of telling others about Christ, don’t buckle under the scorn and ridicule) some however will respond. Just as the priest consecrated the temple, so the people cleared the city of pagan idols and then consecrated themselves to prepare for worship. It has been 200 years since there had been such a celebration in Jerusalem. God delivered the southern kingdom through his protection, from the Assyrians who tried to capture the area under Hezekiah’s rule. Hezekiah’s kingdom enjoyed God’s protection against many others. His reign was successful and blessed by God.

MANESSEH his son succeeded KING HEZEKIAH. He was 21 years and reigned 55 years. He rebuilt idol areas that his father HEZEKIAH had demolished. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshipped them. He sacrificed his son, practiced sorcery and divination and witchcraft and consulted mediums and spiritualists. He did great evil in the eyes of the Lord.

He put carved images in the temple of God. He was captured by the king of Assyria who took him to Babylon (because by that time, Assyria had captured Babylon and made it their capital) with a hook in his nose and shackles on his ankles. MANESSEH later repented to God, called out to him for forgiveness and humbled himself  before God. The Lord saw his heart and was moved by his plea and allowed him to return to Jerusalem. (IF GOD CAN FORVIGE MENESSEH, SURELY HE CAN FORGIVE ANYONE WHO GENUINELY SEEKS HIS FORGIVENESS).

MANESSEAH turned back to God after his repentance and restored proper worship in the temple, he destroyed the pagan idols. Although the people returned to sacrificing to God, they continued to sacrifice in the places formally built for idol worship. This was disobedience because God had instructed them only to make their sacrifices in special places. Although the people were worshiping God, they were mixing pagan beliefs and practices with the worship of God.

AMON succeeded his father MANESSEH. He was 22 years old and reigned for two years. He followed the evil path of his father had originally taken. He worshipped idols and offered sacrifices to all the idols. Unlike his father, he did not repent or humble himself before God. His officers assassinated him.

IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME GOD RAISED UP JEREMIAH THE PROPHET.

This was a chaotic time politically, morally and spiritually, as Babylon, Egypt and Assyria battled for world supremacy.

Being a prophet in Jeremiah’s days was risky business. Prophets had to criticize the policies of the evil kings, and this made them appear as traitors. The king hated the prophets for standing against his policies and the people hated the prophets for preaching against their idolatrous life -style

The united nation of Israel included both the “house of Israel” and the house of Judah. Jeremiah knew Israel’s history well. The prophet recited history to the people for several reasons:

1. To remind them of God’s faithfulness.
2. To make sure they would not forget (remember they did not have bibles then.
3. To emphasize God’s love for them.

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