READING FOR MAY 5, 2026: 2 KINGS 21, 2 CORINTHIANS 7, PSALM 38:15-22 2 KINGS 21 Leviticus 18:24 says the following: “Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled.” To learn what these defiling acts were, one could either read Leviticus 18 in its entirety or read a summary of what Hezekiah’s son, King Manasseh, foolishly did during his reign as described in this chapter. We learn in verse 1 that Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king. Thus, he was born during the extended 15 years God granted to Hezekiah. This reign is confirmation that Hezekiah was unwise in asking for these additional years.
Below is a partial summary of Manasseh’s disastrous 55-year reign:
- Rebuilt the high places, erected Baal altars, made an Asherah, and worshiped the stars.
- Built false altars in the Temple, including altars to the stars in the Temple courts.
- Made his son pass through fire.
- Practiced witchcraft, used divination, consulted with mediums and spiritists,
- Set up a carved image of Asherah in the Temple.
- Seduced the people of Judah to do more evil than the Canaanites—the land’s prior inhabitants.
- Shed innocent blood extensively in Jerusalem.
During this calamitous time, God’s prophets still carried God’s message to the people. That message was one of coming doom due to the evil not only during Manasseh’s time, but for all the evil the people practiced since being led out of Egypt by Moses. On the surface, it would seem these prophets had no impact, but it’s never wasted effort to speak the truth. For those of you who hold to and speak about Biblical truth in these troubled days, don’t give up.
Stay tuned for an unexpected twist in Manasseh’s story when we read the account of his life in 2 Chronicles, but here we see his life finally ending and his son Amon assuming the kingship. Amon was 22 years old when he began his reign and was bad as Manasseh. His servants assassinated him and installed Amon’s son Josiah king; he was eight at the time. By doing simple math, Amon must have been no more than 14 years old when he fathered Josiah. Being a teen parent usually doesn’t work well for the children, this writer having witnessed his share as a CASA. We will see how this turns out in the next few chapters.
2 CORINTHIANS 7 Paul begins this chapter by referring back to God’s promise to obedient believers at the end of 2 Cor. 6 to be as a father to them. The commonly made statement that all people are God’s children is not biblically correct in this spiritual sense. But now, born again as God’s children, we have the obligation and opportunity to live in certain ways: ridding ourselves of defilement and perfecting our holiness (2 Cor. 7:1). This is Wesleyan theology!
READINGS FOR MAY 5, 2026 CONTINUED: 2 CORINTHIANS 7, PSALM 38:15-22 Paul goes on to ask for room in the people’s hearts. Perhaps there is a believer who needs some space in our hearts today. The Holy Spirit can bring the name of a person or group to mind if we ask. This would be a perfect example of praying in the will of God (1 John 5:14). Perhaps our church’s prayer calendar would be a useful tool.
In verse 4 Paul presents a puzzling dichotomy: overflowing joy in affliction. Certainly, our older church has many undergoing physical afflictions. In addition to healing, could we pray for their overflowing joy? It seems Paul cultivated this joy himself through interaction with another believer, Titus, and learning how well the Corinthians were living out their faith. In our afflictions, let’s stay engaged with others and not let Satan take away our joy. Paul also confessed he took no immediate joy in the tough message he communicated in his previous letter. He termed it “godly sorrow” that produced repentance leading to salvation. Church is not all fun and games, but it is interaction among believers with eternal stakes involved.
PSALM 38:15-22 Throughout the first 15 verses, David emphasizes both his own personal limitations and the lack of support he receives from others. In this state of inadequacy, he appeals to God and expresses his ultimate hope in God. This is an honest self-appraisal, a realistic understanding of others, and a necessary appeal to the only One who can help him. We need this same approach. We are inadequate in ourselves and even those closest to us will seem to fail us at times. God alone is one who never fails us.
This is not unduly disparaging to friends and family. It is the nature of flawed humanity. Thus, like David, we trust in God. Like David, we confess our sins. Like David, we are not shocked when others disappoint us. And like David, we rejoice in the Lord. We magnify Him and seek His deliverance. Romans 8:35-39 is true and reassuring: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
