Manasseh was an evil king. Five times in the passage the author described Manasseh as evil. (v2, 9, 6, 11, 16) and when a Hebrew writer has to keep on repeating specific words to bring his point across, you can imagine how terrible Manasseh was. The bible tells us that Manasseh did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (v2), so much evil that it angered Yahweh God (v6). He led the nation into an evil that was more than the nations combined had ever done (v9). If you think the pagans were evil, Judah had accomplished more evil than the all Amorites did (v11). The amount of innocent blood that was shed was so much that it can fill Jerusalem from one end to another (v16). Manasseh had reached a new level of evil which his predecessors had never achieved.

Whatever idol worship Hezekiah, his father has removed, he rebuilt them, and what more, he built these altars WITHIN the house of the Lord. Even under the rule of King Ahaz, which was a king that did great evil in the eyes of God before Manasseh, Ahaz worshipped outside the temple of God. But under the rule of Manasseh, he has defiled the temple of God with pagan worship. It was within the house of God where God commanded them to do everything in according to His commandments, but the irony was that Manasseh laid the image of Asherah at the location of this proclamation of God’s command.

It is here that God sends His words of warning to His people. He will set over Jerusalem the measuring line and plumb line. What is the plumb line? A plumb line is a tool used by masons to build walls that are straight and at perfect right angle to the earth. The tool serves as a guide for the perfect construction of the wall or structure. Often, if the plumb line is set and the wall is found to misalign from it, the wall will be demolished so that a straight wall can be built.

In the same way, a plumb line is a symbol of God’s judgement upon those who had deviated from His Word and ways. Dear brothers and sisters, you do not want God to use the plumb line on you, for no one can stand before the judgement of God. Nahum 1:6 tells us:

Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

God was telling the people of Judah that His patience is running thin and he will soon give His people into the hands of their enemies because of their sinful nature. Judgement will come if they do not turn away from their sinful nature and return back to Him. When the day comes, it will be a devastating sight for Judah to bear.

Dear brothers and sisters, our God is a holy God, and He hates an unrepentant heart. While God is merciful, do not take mercy for granted. God is displeased with unrepentant sin and for our benefit, He will exercise judgement and discipline. Are there unrepentant sins we harbour in our lives which we have not turned to God for forgiveness? If we desire intimacy in our walk with God, we must first remove any sin that hinders us from coming into His presence. 1 Peter 3:12 tells us that the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Let’s take time to come before God to examine ourselves frequently so that we will remain pleasing in His sight.

Prayer : Dear God, would you examine my heart and reveal to me your ways today. (Pause, be quiet and sense if there is anything that displeases God that He is speaking to you about) I ask oh God for your forgiveness for what you have revealed to me. Create in me a clean heart. Will you change my heart so I will not return back to my old ways. Please do not give up on your child but be merciful to protect it. In Jesus name I pray, amen.