Should the godless govern people of faith? ∙
Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the LORD had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land. – 2 Chronicles 33:9
2 Kings 21:1-16
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah.
2 He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.
3 He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them.
4 He built pagan altars in the Temple of the LORD.
5 He built these altars for all the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the LORD’s Temple.
6 Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He did much that was evil in the LORD’s sight, arousing his anger. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics.
7 Manasseh even made a carved image of Asherah and set it up in the Temple.
10 Then the LORD said through his servants the prophets:
11 “King Manasseh of Judah has done many detestable things. He is even more wicked than the Amorites, who lived in this land before Israel. He has caused the people of Judah to sin with his idols.”
12 So this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: “I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror.”
13 “I will judge Jerusalem by the same standard I used for Samaria and the same measure I used for the family of Ahab. I will wipe away the people of Jerusalem as one wipes a dish and turns it upside down.”
16 Manasseh also murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled from one end to the other with innocent blood. This was in addition to the sin that he caused the people of Judah to commit, leading them to do evil in the LORD’s sight.
In the United States, constitutional law concerning religion can be broadly categorized into two main areas.
The first area addresses religious liberty cases, focusing on how individuals are free to practice their religion, even when such practices might conflict with universally applicable laws or regulations.
The second area involves church-state cases, determining the circumstances and extent of government involvement with specific religious groups. The courts play a pivotal role in deciding when such interactions are permissible and when they are not.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has expressed concern that religious liberty is threatened by an “increasingly secular society” and its “new moral code.” He suggests that many Americans view religion as “not all that important” or deserving of “special protection.”
Alito remarked, “For many today, religious liberty is not cherished. It’s often just an excuse for bigotry and can’t be tolerated, even when there is no evidence that anybody has been harmed . . .. The question we face is whether our society will be inclusive enough to tolerate people with unpopular religious beliefs.”
Alito argued that some recent Supreme Court decisions, including the landmark ruling upholding a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, fueled intolerance of those who believe marriage should be limited to unions between one man and one woman.
He wants to empower fellow believers to govern the godless. At the other end of the continuum, the godless want to empower fellow unbelievers to govern people of faith.
Considering that the population in America is neither all godless nor godly, the question becomes who should govern whom?
REFLECT & PRAY
“As the leader goes, so goes the nation” (John Maxwell).
Father, as it is written, “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). The children of the King are called to be the light and salt in a darkening and flavorless world. Strengthen and encourage us to lead godly and righteous lives.
INSIGHT
One of the most infamous was King Manasseh, who ruled Judah in the 7th century BC. Despite being the son of the devout King Hezekiah, Manasseh is described in the Bible as having committed egregious sins and “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Kings 21:2). He is often regarded as the worst of Judah’s kings. Manasseh reversed his father’s reforms by rebuilding altars to false gods that Hezekiah had destroyed and introducing the worship of Baal. He even exceeded the wickedness of the Amorites, a nation infamous for its brutality and corruption.
Manasseh’s reign was characterized by rampant idolatry and bloodshed. He was held responsible for the downfall of the Southern Kingdom (2 Kings 24:3; Jeremiah 15:1-4). Despite his great wickedness, he had the longest reign of any Jewish king, lasting 55 years. This raises the question of whether the Father had lifted His protective hand from the nation, allowing sin to flourish unchecked. Manasseh practiced the abhorrent religion of Molech, even sacrificing his own sons by burning them on the altar. He also consulted spiritists and mediums, embodying godlessness and tarnishing the legacy of Judah’s kings.
Nevertheless, the Father demonstrates His ability to accomplish what may seem impossible. As recounted in 2 Chronicles, King Manasseh faced captivity in Babylon as a consequence of his transgressions (2 Chronicles 33:11). Yet, during his time in exile, Manasseh repented, leading to God extending mercy and grace by permitting his return to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 33:12-13; 2 Chronicles 33:18-19).
After being reinstated, Manasseh took significant steps to rid Judah of the idolatry that had plagued the land (2 Chronicles 33:15-17). Regrettably, the damage caused by his sins had already deeply permeated the nation. The profound spiritual impairment caused by Manasseh’s wickedness left a lasting mark on Judah, hindering their complete recovery. Even the subsequent reforms initiated under King Josiah proved insufficient to prevent God’s impending judgment (2 Kings 23:26).
The quote by Jack “ASLAN” Hornsby emphasizes the pivotal role of leadership in the success of a nation. “Leadership ability is the lid on the success of a nation . . .. When Israel or Judah lived under good kings, things went well. Under bad kings, things went sour. The heart and skill of a leader will always tremendously affect the life of the people under his direction. This is a law, both timeless and universal” (Hornsby).
When governance is entrusted to the godless, the consequences are severe. The populace experiences moral decay and degradation, emphasizing the profound influence of leadership on society’s well-being.
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© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 