Read II Chronicles Manasseh reigned in Judah

Now when he (Manasseh) was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. (II Chronicles 33:12-13 NKJV)

Manasseh became king after the death of his father, Hezekiah. He was the fourteenth king of Judah when he was twelve. Unlike his father, Hezekiah who restored the worship of Yahweh; he did evil blatantly and openly with delight following the detestable practices of the pagan nations.

The Lord spoke through the prophet to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all His warnings repeatedly. God judgment of righteousness allowed the Assyrian commanders to attack and he was taken as prisoner to Syria. However, through the torture and afflictions; God broke his stubborn will. While in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord for mercy. He sincerely humbled himself before God. The Lord listened and brought him back to Jerusalem restoring his kingdom. Then Manasseh began all over again realized that the Lord alone is God! God is God of grace and will save the uttermost and restore what he lost. He started badly but ended well.

God is God of love. As He allowed Manasseh to be afflicted through which Manasseh humbled himself and returned to Him; He draws us to Himself through affliction. For the God who is able to save Manasseh will be able to save us.

Prayer: Father God, You are merciful and loving. How often I grieved You in my wilful sins. All my sins were judged in Your Son, Jesus. I am bearing His righteousness. Your discipline is not meant as a judgment. It is Your love that have drawn me to Yourself.

EZRA [22 24 MARCH Day 82 - 84]

Ezra means help. It follows the book of II Chronicles written to show God is faithful. He keeps His covenant. And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Then it will come to pass, when seventy years are completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, says the LORD; and I will make it a perpetual desolation. So I will bring on that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied concerning all the nations. (Jeremiah 25:11-13).

II Chronicles ends with King Cyrus of Persia granting permission to the Jews to return to Jerusalem. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. (Ezra 1:1-2)

Ezra probably wrote it about 450 B.C. There were three returns to Jerusalem as recorded. Ezra gives the account of the first two returns while Nehemiah records the third.

Chapters 1 6 The first return was led by Zerubbabel the governor a descendant of King David (Chapter 2). The Jews started to build a temple (house of God) in Jerusalem. But the people who lived near them did not want the Jews back in the land. They opposed the Jews so that the Jews did not continue to build the temple (Chapter 3-4). God send His prophets, Zechariah and Haggai at this time to remind them it's not man but God. (Chapter 5) Finally God caused Darius to decree that the work continues (Chapter 6) God helped the Jews and they finished the building.

Chapters 7 10 The Return led by Ezra. Ezra was a teacher who taught the people from God's word. Ezra opposes intermarriage.

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