King Solomon was right. Everything we do can be undone in a single generation. A Great Unraveling can occur in any single generation.
Hezekiah was extraordinary in his obedience to the LORD, finally dealing with the high places and bringing great reform. But as he was dying, he asked the LORD for more time. The LORD granted it and He was given 15 more years. During that time he had sons and the one son Manasseh was to succeed him.
The evil that Manasseh did was epic. He completely, 100% reversed all the righteous reforms of his father, filling Jerusalem with pagan worship, sacrificing his own children to the gods, and shedding “so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem with it from one end to another” (2 Kings 21:14).
All that Hezekiah had done was lost. And because of many were led astray and committed worse crimes than that of the Amorites who the LORD had drive out (2 Kings 21:9). It was terrible times.
Then it is no surprise that his son Amon followed in his father’s footsteps. He too did what was evil until his own servants conspired and killed him. Evil is easy. It takes character to walk in righteousness.
When we see that it’s disheartening. Everything good can come apart very fast. So what’s the point? The point is that we never stop pursuing righteousness, inspiring and leading others to follow the LORD, and trusting the LORD to right a rocking ship.
And this is what happened here. While Manasseh was evil and so was his son Amon who only reigned two years, Amon’s son Josiah became king. A new day was coming.
Never lose hope.
