Mondays with Marty 10/28/19

Friends,

 

It's an odd thing to think about, but sometimes I wonder which of Judah's ancient Kings I would want to have as my co-pastor. Most people would choose David or Solomon. Hezekiah and Josiah are also good choices. But I would choose Manasseh.

 

Manasseh ended well, but began bad. He holds the record for being the most idolatrous King ever to rule over God's people. He defiled the sanctuary, worshiped everything under the sun (including the sun, moon and stars), hung out with mediums and fortune tellers, and even sacrificed some of his children to Baal. And he taught all of Judah and Jerusalem to do as he did. The nation went from bad to worse to whatever comes after worse.

 

God warned him to change his ways, but Manasseh refused. So God let him be captured by the Assyrians. He went from the palace to an Assyrian prison, which was a fate worse than death. The Assyrians were known for their cruelty -- they made their drums from the skins of their enemies! Soldiers would rather die in battle than be captured by the Assyrians. Manasseh went from ruling God's people to being a plaything for Assyrians jailers.

 

Having hit bottom, there was nowhere to go but up. As a friend recently reminded me, there's wisdom in admitting, "I can't. God can. I think I'll let him." What no prophet could accomplish, a foreign dungeon did. Manasseh came to his senses and repented of his sins. He begged God for mercy, and God came through. Not only was Manasseh set free, but he got to go home and was even reinstated as King.

 

His subjects might have expected business as usual, but this was a news man. Manasseh tore down all the pagan altars he had set up, cleansed and rededicated God's temple, and commanded the people of Judah to worship the Lord. He had held the record for "most faithless King". Now he was aiming for a purity that would have put King David to shame.

 

And that's why I'd take him as my co-pastor over David or Solomon or any of the others. Post-Assyria Manasseh would have been a kind man, a forgiving man. He wouldn't be easy on sin, but he would be gentle with sinners, and quick to point out that Jesus paid the price for all of us. Nothing would surprise him, because he'd done it all. He'd hear your confession and comfort your soul. His middle name would be "grace", and his first name would be "amazing". He'd be patient, but not soft. He'd be direct, but not judgmental. He would encourage but not enable. He would lead but not harass. He'd be quick to admit when he was wrong, and never hold it against you when you were wrong. In a word, he'd be amazing. Co-pastor? I'd let him be the senior pastor.

 

In Chirst,

 

Pastor Marty Hufford

Peace Lutheran Church