What influences led Amon to follow in Manasseh's sinful footsteps? The Text at a Glance “ And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Manasseh had done.” (2 Kings 21:20) Influence #1: A Father’s Sinful Legacy - Manasseh’s fifty-five-year reign normalized idolatry (2 Kings 21:2–7). - Children learn by imitation; Amon “walked in all the ways” of his father (2 Chron 33:22). - Exodus 20:5 states that the effects of a father’s sin reach “to the third and fourth generation.” - Even after Manasseh’s late repentance (2 Chron 33:12–16), the deep imprint of his earlier years remained on the palace, the priests, and Amon himself. Influence #2: A Nation Steeped in Idolatry - Altars to Baal and Asherah still stood in public view (2 Kings 21:3). - Pagan worship was conducted “in the two courts of the house of the LORD” (v. 5), blurring lines between truth and error. - Jeremiah 15:4 shows how pervasive Manasseh’s corruption became; Amon simply continued the flow of national life. Influence #3: Advisors Trained in Rebellion - Court officials, prophets-for-hire, and priests who thrived under Manasseh remained in power; their counsel reinforced sin (compare 2 Chron 33:17). - Proverbs 13:20: “the companion of fools will be destroyed.” Amon surrounded himself with the same fools his father once empowered. Influence #4: Missing the Lesson of Late Repentance - Manasseh humbled himself after being taken captive (2 Chron 33:12–13), but Amon was born earlier and “did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had humbled himself” (v. 23). - The repentance was genuine yet apparently private, leaving public symbols of idolatry intact; Amon clung to what still stood. Influence #5: Neglect of God’s Word - Deuteronomy 17:18-20 required every king to write and read the Law daily; neither Manasseh nor Amon obeyed. - Under Josiah, the Book of the Law had to be rediscovered (2 Kings 22:8), proving how thoroughly Scripture had been ignored. - Without constant exposure to God’s Word, Amon defaulted to the surrounding culture. Influence #6: Personal Choice and Hardness of Heart - Scripture records historical events with exact accuracy yet always holds individuals responsible: “each will die for his own iniquity” (Ezekiel 18:4). - Romans 1:21-25 describes the downward spiral of those who suppress revealed truth; Amon consciously “sacrificed to all the idols” (2 Chron 33:22). Takeaway: Why the Pattern Matters - Sinful patterns, once established, rarely stay private; they shape families and nations. - Genuine repentance must be accompanied by visible reform to protect the next generation. - The most powerful safeguard against repeating old sins is daily submission to God’s unchanging Word. |
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