At a recent event hosting Ravi Zacharias, he addressed the lessons learned from two ancient Israelite kings. Manasseh and Josiah.
2 Kings 21:1-2: "Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king....He did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel."
This evil king, offered his own children up to Canaanite gods following the ways of his surrounding culture. So often and putrid became the practice that the valley in which it was practiced was named "Place of Hell."
It is through its actions with its own children that a civilization testifies to its own character. Sacrificing children to the gods revealed the depth of Manasseh's wickedness. Our own nation offers its unborn to the goddess of "choice," "personal freedom" and pragmatism.
In contrast, Josiah, a youth when crowned king did right in the sight of God. During his reign the "book of the law" was discovered by a high priest. (2 Kings 22:8). He ordered the expulsion of idolatrous materials found within the temple. 2 Kings 23:4"to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel."
The Asherah is linked to the Canaanite goddess who acts as a female partner to Baal in the Canaanite religion. The host of heaven implies a pantheon of other gods worshiped at the time. All such foreign polytheism is removed in favor of worshiping Yahweh as the Most High God and the only one to be worshiped. Such worship was distinctly unique to Israel.
It is through the Word of God that one finds the power to change. Additionally, it resuces the culture from the tyranny of the immediate. The nation need not respond to current secular philosophies.
Manasseh and Josiah provide lessons for our present post-modern culture.
2 comments:
Thought-provoking ideas from Mr. Zacharias (once again!). I definitely agree with his principle that the character and moral climate of a civilization is tied closely with its treatment of its children. As you mentioned, we see so much lacking in this respect in our own country, but it is even worse in other nations, such as Ch*na. Children there are often treated as disposable goods even outside of the womb.... abandoned, sold, or sent to work in unhealthy professions (Olympic training, gymnastics, acrobatics, etc.) at heart-breakingly young ages. Oh how our world needs Christ and His Truth to guide our social actions and cultures!
Great post!!
Thanks for compiling some of the key thoughts from that night, it was truly a stirring conversation, my own thoughts responding to Ravi's words.
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